Cultivation in Ceylon 37 



rain-water is absorbed by the soil ; and air 

 is drawn in after it. The soil, therefore, 

 becomes aerated to a greater depth than the 

 furrows made by the plough. Roots traverse 

 further and deeper, and find their way to the 

 regions of permanent moisture. The loose 

 soil on the surface acts as a mukh and prevents 

 the evaporation of moisture. The roots having 

 gone deeper and evaporation having been 

 arrested, it follows, of course, that coco-nut 

 trees are better able to withstand droughts 

 and to bear and mature better crops. The aera- 

 tion of the soil renders soluble the otherwise 

 insoluble plant food in the soil. Planters of 

 experience, who have not made a study of 

 agricultural chemistry, realize the benefits of 

 a thorough aeration of the soil so little that 

 recently a gentleman wrote to me and com- 

 plained of the drought and its effects, as seen 

 in the dropping of immature nuts. I suggested 

 the procedure I have just explained, also a 

 thick cover of Crotalaria. He wrote in reply : 

 1 Thanks for your suggestions about ploughing, 

 which I wish 1 could carry out more fully, 

 though nothing will prevent 'the nuts being 

 burnt in such weather as we are having, and 

 the droppings from the young trees in the 

 harder soils.' He should not be too sure of 

 the impossibility of overcoming these unto- 

 ward results of drought. None of us are too 

 old to learn. ' A few acres might be experi- 

 mented on, and the results watched and 

 reported. 



