234 THE RUBBER TREE BOOK 



would be suppressed by the mimosa, the writer would make 

 certain of getting out all lalang before mimosa or anything else 

 was planted as a cover. Certain it is, however, that no vermin 

 harbour in mimosa, and monkeys will not cross over it, so that 

 in these respects it has a distinct advantage over other coverings. 



Two objections have been raised to the use of mimosa as a 

 covering. The first is the difficulty of getting rid of it once it 

 has been established. The difficulty does not exist. Mimosa 

 is very easily cut back, and the roots are very easily dug out. 



The second objection is the danger to the plantation from 

 fire. This, also, is not serious, unless as the result of ignorance 

 or neglect. If the mimosa is allowed to overrun the fields and 

 is permitted to remain more than from twelve to fifteen months 

 without its being cut down and burned, there certainly would be 

 a danger. If only allowed to remain for the above-mentioned 

 period the mimosa is always fresh and green, but long-established 

 coverings of mimosa would naturally have dry and decayed 

 stems and a litter of leaves which, during a drought, would be 

 inflammable. 



To obviate this risk the mimosa covering is cut down every 

 twelve or fifteen months, and the cuttings burned at nights 

 in the centre between the rows of trees. The cuttings only 

 smoulder away, and a careful manager always sees that trust- 

 worthy coolies keep a watch in case of accidents, such as strong 

 wind springing up suddenly. It would, of course, be very much 

 better to dig in this valuable green manure than to so wastefully 

 burn it. Digging it in would add materially to the nitrogen 

 contents of the soil. The same remark applies to all other 

 coverings. 



Indigo is sometimes planted as a cover and catch-crop com- 

 bined. It is also a leguminous plant. It is a much larger plant 

 than any of those already mentioned. Its presence does not 

 keep down weeds to any extent worthy of mention. Where it 

 is planted, as on some estates in Sumatra, with the intention of 

 cutting it down and digging it into the soil so as to enrich it, it 

 is not objectionable; but if intended as a catch-crop I should 

 consider it a hindrance to the growth of the young rubber. 



In the writer's opinion all the foregoing covers are frequently 

 more or less of a mistake. They are cultivated generally on the 

 assumption that, once lalang has been eradicated, something 



