262 SPICES 



CHAP. 



are first sown with rice. When this is done the pepper 

 plants are planted close to strong cuttings of a rough - 

 barked, quick-growing tree. In the first half-year the 

 rice gives the necessary shade, and when it is cut the 

 shade trees are more developed and effective and grow 

 better every day. At the commencement of the second 

 rainy season, after the first planting, the pepper plants are 

 bent down and their tips put in the ground so that only 

 the arch of the stem is visible. The buried tip emits 

 roots, so that the feeding organs of the plant are doubled. 

 From the arch three or four strong shoots spring, which 

 grow so fast that as a rule the plants fruit in the next 

 year. 



Supports. These may be young trees, or stout 

 stakes of timber. They must be ready by the time 

 the cuttings are planted out, so that the plants may 

 be able to climb at once. 



Of living trees a considerable variety have been 

 recommended, among which are such plants as the Jack 

 (Artocarpus integrifolia) and .Mango (Mangifera 

 indica). These are planted from seed or seedlings and 

 are said to have proved satisfactory in some localities, 

 but the slow growth of these trees is very much in 

 their disfavour, and they are not to be recommended. 

 The Erythrinas are very much more suitable, as they 

 can be grown from large-sized cuttings, and there is no 

 delay while the supports are growing. The best kinds 

 are Erythrina lithosperma and E. stricta. The short 

 bushy species, E. crista-galli, etc., should be avoided 

 as they do not make straight regular stems. Straight 

 boughs about 2 in. through and from 6 to 12 ft. tall 

 are cut and planted in situ, about 6 ft. apart. They 

 commence growing at once, throwing out shoots from 

 the top. Side shoots, when they appear, are cut off so 

 that the stem to which the pepper is to cling is straight 

 and regular, while the foliage at the top gives a certain 

 amount of light shade. These trees are generally used 

 by the Achinese, who are very good pepper-cultivators. 

 Other trees which grow readily and straight from 



