78 WEEDING AND PRUNING. 



the ground under the bushes with a layer of long, hard 

 grass six to nine inches thick, the effect of which in cold, 

 wet soils is to keep the ground warm and throw off 

 excessive moisture, while in hot, dry situations it is 

 equally useful to retain moisture. But in any case weeds 

 are kept down and wash is quite prevented, and when 

 rotten the grass may be hoed or dug in as manure ; this 

 thatching has been found a perfect cure for black bug. A 

 third operation, termed "trenching" or "water hoeing," 

 is where trenches are made across the slope, which may be 

 either opened or closed. In the former case holes three to 

 four feet long, twelve to fifteen inches broad and from fifteen 

 to eighteen inches deep are cut between each four trees, the 

 soil taken from them is spread over the roots of the trees, 

 while the holes are left open to act as catch drains and 

 receptacles for wash, weeds, prunings and other vegetable 

 refuse, being emptied twice a year and their contents 

 spread around the roots of the shrubs. Closed trenches 

 are ditches cut across the entire length of the coffee rows 

 two feet wide and deep and filled with any vegetable rub- 

 bish at hand, they are then covered with earth and well 

 trodden down, while the remaining soil is spread under 

 the trees. The benefit of trenching is greatest in stiff 

 soils. The refuse matter in the trenches should be well 

 limed in all cases, in order to kill the grubs and other 

 vermin for which it will otherwise form a nursery. 



By " weeding," on a Coffee plantation, is meant the 

 eradication of every plajii which, is not being intentionally 

 cultivated. The operation is performed in different ways, 

 according to the nature of the soil. On Hght soils and 

 sloping situations hand-weeding is much the best. The 

 laborer is provided with a pointed stick to help in getting 



