CHAPTER II 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND 



Felling. If the land is old forest or with strong 

 secondary growth, the trees, after felling, should 

 be entirely burnt off. This should take place in 

 the dry months a month or so before the rainy 

 season. About three weeks after felling, fire 

 should be set to the fallen jungle, and this 

 should not be deferred till all the leaves have 

 fallen or the undergrowth has made some pro- 

 gress ; a good burn saves much after labour. 

 Above all things, lalang grass must be kept out 

 of the clearing. It not only retards growth, but 

 when long and dry is an ever-present danger by 

 fire. The careless coolie and the discarded match 

 amongst lalang have cost the planter many 

 thousand dollars in the past. 



Stumping. There ought not to be any 

 question in a planter's mind as to the advisa- 

 bility of rooting up all tree stumps, for such 

 work has for its object the prevention of the 

 development of fungi, termites, and other insect 

 pests. These pests attack living or dying trees, 

 and the danger lies in the half-dead trees on the 

 estate after the burn. Some planters hold that 



