Cultivation in Ceylon 45 



resulting benefit to the trees will commence 

 with their decay. On a heavy soil, retentive of 

 moisture, the decay will be comparatively rapid, 

 while on a sandy soil the decay will be very 

 slow. If the husks are buried in small pits 

 all over the estate, they will, in decaying, 

 yield humus, which is essential to a fertile 

 condition. Another source of humus is weeds, 

 which it will be wise to always fill into small 

 pits. Humus and its formation have received 

 much attention in recent years, since the 

 growth of nitrogen-gathering legumes was 

 suggested, and Crotalaria is perhaps the most 

 popular of all leguminous plants. One draw- 

 back with the cultivation of large leguminous 

 plants is that the whole surface of the soil does 

 not get the benefit of the humus, only the pits 

 where they are buried. Cannot planters in- 

 troduce some species of small plants, like 

 vetches or lupines, which can be readily turned 

 into the soil in the process of ploughing or 

 tilling ? " 



