23 



water transportation ; the supply of water, wood, and building materials, 

 and the distance from a market, are all matters that should receive 

 consideration. 



The site having been selected, the boundary lines should be carefully 

 located, and the plantation mapped out with a view to future develop- 

 ment. At some central point, where there is a supply of good water, the 

 necessary buildings may be erected. These will include a residence for 

 the manager, a storage shed for tools and implements, and a shelter for 

 animals. As soon as this preliminary work is finished the clearing and 

 planting should be commenced. 



The most difficult problem which the tropical planter has to face, and 

 that which more than any other one thing will determine his ultimate 

 success or failure, is the manner in which he controls and directs his 

 labor. To have available at all times as many workmen as can be used 

 to advantage, and to so handle them as to secure the best results, requires 

 a thorougli knowledge of the native character and an infinite amount of 

 tact and patience. Wlien the plantation is first started arrangements 

 should be made for building a native village of sufficient size to accom- 

 modate all laborers needed on the plantation, together with their families. 

 By this method the plantation manager will always have under his direct 

 control a fairly reliable supply of labor; and if this system is properly 

 carried out the workmen will be more contented, better satisfied, and in 

 every respect more easily handled than if secured in any other way. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL,. 



The clearing of the forest, which is the first process in preparing the 

 land for planting is best accomplished in the following way: The land 

 sliould fii-st be cleared of all underbrush and weeds, leaving nothing 

 standing but good-sized trees. The underbrush and weeds should be left 

 scattered on the ground until they are perfectly dry, when the felling 

 of ail trees, excepting such as are to be left for shade and protection 

 from wind, should commence. After felling the large trees it is ad- 

 visable to cut off all branches and limbs. This has a double advantage, 

 namely, the material dries more quickly and is also more thoroughly 

 consumed when burned. Where the forest is heavy, two and sometimes 

 three burnings are required. The first burning consists of setting fire 

 to the dry and combustible underbrush and leaves, which in turn set 

 fire to the small branches and twigs. The second and third burnings 

 should be started immediately after the first is finished, and consist in 

 piling up and burning in separate piles all of the limbs and larger 

 branches that remain after the first burning. These successive burnings 

 clear the ground of all waste, destroy a portion of the seeds of weeds, 

 and leave an amount of ash, the potash salts of which furnish a valuable 

 fertilizing material. All clearing and burning should be finished before 

 the close of the dry season. 



