LAYING OUT PLANTATION 61 



prevent wash, or erosion of soil. Steep hillsides,, 

 however, need elaborate drainage. The drains 

 should run round the contour of the hill, and be 

 given only a very gentle fall. They should be close 

 together. The object in view is not to take away 

 as much water as possible from the hill, but to 

 retain it by retarding its downward flow, so that 

 the soil has a longer time to soak it up. Besides 

 causing a loss of water to the plants, the inefficient 

 drainage of steep lands results in heavy wash of 

 the soil, and the consequent loss to the crop of the 

 loose rich top-soil. 



In addition to the drains, catch-pits are very 

 useful on steep land. These should be made in 

 places between the drains where wash is likely. 

 They should be about 2 feet wide, 1 foot deep, and 

 about 6 feet long. Such pits will hold a consider- 

 able amount of water, none of which can escape 

 except by soaking down to the roots of the crop. 

 The fine soil which they collect during a heavy rain 

 can be removed at intervals, and thrown back on 

 the land from which it was washed. 



Another means of staying wash is to plant 

 thickly a low-growing shrub. Species of Crota- 

 laria are suitable for this purpose. The seeds 



