18 SPICES 



CMAP. 



MANURE 



The different kinds of manure to be used are mentioned 

 under the different spices. In the tropics cow-dung, 

 where procurable, is generally considered the best general 

 manure. Stable manure is too hot, and requires rotting 

 for some years before it can be used. The planter, 

 however, often has to depend upon the kind of 

 manure procurable in his locality. In some places 

 poonac and castor cake can be obtained ; in others 

 cow -dung, rotten leaves, etc. have to be depended 

 upon. Comparatively little has as yet been done in 

 the tropics with chemical manures. 



4 'Burnt earth" is a most useful manure. The 

 method of making and using it is described under 

 Vanilla. The weeds and dead leaves, sticks, etc., found 

 on the ground should never be entirely removed. It 

 is usual in the case of weeds to dig pits in the ground 

 between the trees and to put them in to rot, covering 

 them with soil and pressing them down. They can 

 also be decayed in piles or open pits and restored to 

 the ground as a mulch. Manure should not be put 

 close to the trunk of the tree, but should be placed at 

 the point to which the farthermost leaves of the tree 

 project, or in the middle line between two rows of 

 trees, and equally distant from each. 



In manuring such plants as ginger, the manure 

 added before planting should be well mixed with the 

 soil, and not allowed to remain in lumps scattered 

 through the beds. 



Liquid manure should not be applied to plants 

 before four o'clock in the afternoon, or until the hot 

 part of the day is passed, nor should plants be watered 

 during the heat of the day. 



THE PRODUCE 



The planter should endeavour to turn out his 

 produce in the most perfect condition possible, and no 



