WEEDING AND UPKEEP 83 



Leguminosae (many species of which have the 

 power of collecting the free nitrogen from the air) 

 would by their own growth so completely cover the 

 soil, that other weeds had no chance to grow. 

 Their powers of absorbing nitrogen were said to 

 prove a valuable aid to the Eubber among which 

 they were planted; and altogether Eubber so 

 grown was expected to develop as rapidly as clean- 

 weeded Eubber, and at a very small expense for 

 upkeep. The plan was, however, extensively 

 tested in Malaya, and it was conclusively proved 

 that better growth resulted from absolutely clean 

 weeding. 



The cover plants were tried with Para only, but 

 there is no doubt that with Coffee the failure 

 would have been even more pronounced. Nothing 

 but clean weeding can be practised with Coffee. 

 A very moderate growth of weeds, even for a few 

 weeks only, has a noticeable effect on the trees. 

 The leaves take on a pale hue, and growth is much 

 restricted. If the trees are young, the result can 

 be seen for a year after in the short internodes, 

 and small leaves of the growth so affected. 



We have seen a field of Coffee interplanted with 

 lemon grass. The grass was cut periodically and 



