53-4 MANUAL OP IHE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



CH. XXIX. should be laid at a distance from the stem about equal to the radius of 

 ,,~ the branches applies to a tree in the open. On a tea estate, where the 



— l^- bashes are grown as closely together as circumstances will permit, we 

 have plants growing under unnatural circumstances, and as we find it 

 necessary to curtail the lateral growth of the branches when they 

 commence to touch one another, so must we deal with the roots also, 

 more especially when supplying them artificially with food. In fact, 

 we must endeavour that the feeding roots of each plant shall not, as a 

 rule, spread much further than a circle formed from the stem with a 

 radius of half the distance between the plants. It is my favourite plan 

 therefore to fork a trench between each pair of plants. 



Now as the feeding roots of the plant seldom extend downwards 

 beyond 12 to 18 inches from the surface, and are by far the more 

 numerous and active towards the top, it stands to reason that the 

 nearer the manure is brought in contact with these, the greater its 

 effect will be ; consequently from 9 inches to 1 foot is the best depth 

 for these holes- When the soil has been removed to this deptli 

 (injuring the main roots as little as possible), the soil may be loosened 

 with a fork a few inches deeper with advantage. The small fibrous 

 roots torn or cut ofi" will soon be reformed, and that in far greater 

 numbers. I prefer, when practicable, lifting the soil all round the tree, 

 nowhere nearer than from 15 to 18 inches from its stem, on flat or 

 uuterraced lands where serious wash is not to be apprehended. On 

 terracing land pits must be dug between the trees. Many planters lay 

 down their manure in trenches cut between the rows, but for my own 

 jiart I prefer the practice above illustrated. 



For loose soils and where the trees are planted at fairly wide 

 distances apart, many planters like to lay their manure on the sui-face 

 and then fork it in. As a rule much of the manure remains within 

 reach of atmospheric influence and parts with its nourishment to the 

 air instead of the plant. 



The manure should not be thrown into the holes in a lump, but 

 well mixed up with the soil, and the whole covered with a good 3 

 inches of earth to prevent the evaporation of its constituents during 

 decomposition." 

 v<-i-iiiiJL' A few remarks are called for on this subject. I would most 



strongly urge that land that has been put under tea should be 

 kept clean from the outset. All plants other than that which it 

 is the planter's object to cultivate, abstract nourishment from 

 the soil and do not, even when buried green, return all that they 

 have absorbed. On light soils hand-weeding is to be preferred. 

 On stiff soils a light scraping with the mamoty will not injure tlie 

 trees, but will aid materially in keeping the soil open. Tea will 

 not be found to thrive on lands which are overrun with grasses, 

 ojperaceie, or any other dense growth of weeds. 



During the first year a weeding once in every six weeks will, in 

 all probability, be found sufficient, and during the two following 

 years ouce in every two months. By this time the seeds origi- 



