168 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS R .n 



Square 'pattern 



43560 



Square of planting distance 



Rectangular pattern 



43560 



^ . ; 



Distance between the lines x distance in lines 



Triangular pattern 



43560 x 1-165. 



Square of side of triangle 



The next operation to be described is the tilth or 

 preparation of the ground for the actual reception of 

 seeds or plants. It is an operation which is sometimes 

 neglected in the case of broadcast sowing or of dibbling 

 in seed or even sometimes with small transplants ; but in 

 places where weeds spring fast and dense, the future of 

 the young plantation is much more likely to be assured 

 by this preliminary work. 



In places where broadcast sowing or dibbling in of 

 seeds is to be done, and where the clearing has been 

 done with a plough, the area should be gone over with 

 a chain-harrow as preparation for the seed, and the 

 same preparation may be given for small transplants ; 

 but where the clearing has been done in patches the 

 soil has to be worked up by hand, and the amount of 

 work will depend on the nature and size of seed or 

 transplant and on the soil. For reception of the seed 

 it may be sufficient to give a few strokes of the hoe at 

 the spots marked with lining-pegs ; or if the ground is 

 hard, a pick -axe may have to be used, or special 

 instruments such as soil-augers (Figs. 53 and 54) ; or 

 when the soil is tough as well as hard, a heavier 

 implement, such as the tramp-pick (Fig. 55) or a crow- 

 bar. If there are still rhizomes or roots in the soil, the 

 torsion-rake (Fig. 56) can be employed for breaking 

 them up and loosening the soil. 



For transplants of an average or large size holes 

 will have to be dug out. This has to be done even 



