WEEDING AND CULTIVATION 225 



the appearance and the growth of the trees. Where the trees 

 were very young they were dug round within a radius of 4 feet. 

 This cost $1.20 per acre. Older trees were dug around within a 

 radius of 8 to 10 feet at a cost, in this case, of $3 to $4 per acre, 

 the wider circle involving, of course, very much more digging. 

 The cost, however, seems very high for the work. 



While agreeing that clean-weeding from a strictly monetary 

 point of view is generalty the most economical and the best 

 method of working, and that lalang must be got rid of whatever 



FIG. 60. Cultivation by means of Bullock-ploughs. 



the expense may be, I am persuaded that clean-weeding is 

 sometimes rashness. 



On estates which are very hilly, and have very steep slopes 

 subject to severe wash of soil, clean- weeding is generally most 

 unwise. The surface-soil is the rich soil rich in vegetable 

 humus. It is full of bacterial life. If washed away it cannot 

 be replaced. The best way to retain this surface-soil in such 

 cases is to encourage the growth of light and harmless grasses 

 and weeds. The roots of these do not penetrate into the soil 

 more than from 2 to 3 inches, and do not interfere much with 

 the tender surface roots of the young Heveas, which are from 

 4 to 5 inches below the surface of the soil. Their presence does 



