WASH OF SOIL 243 



means must be taken to prevent surface-soil being swept away. 

 Where clean-weeding of steep slopes has been insisted on against 

 the manager's convictions, the writer has seen immense masses 

 of soil slide bodily down the hillsides, taking everything with 

 them. Had belts of grasses or hedges been planted, no doubt 

 this might in some cases have been prevented, but even these 

 are not always sufficient to retain masses of light porous soils 

 on very steep hillsides. 



The names of many well-known estates in Ceylon, in the 

 Federated Malay States, in Java and in Sumatra, might be 

 mentioned, if occasion demanded it, where such landslides 

 occurred, sometimes with damage to neighbouring properties. 

 The man on the spot, if capable, ought to be the best judge of 

 what methods will best serve in each particular case that arises. 

 Economy and efficiency ought always to work hand in hand. 



