Planting in the West Indies 65 



period, or which are of sickly grow.th, had 

 better be burnt, or otherwise rendered harm- 

 less, for if left about, they may prove dangerous 

 as insect and pest breeders, having lain about 

 for so long. The trees, according to the rich- 

 ness of the soil, should be planted 30 ft., and 

 even 35 ft. apart (forty-eight and thirty-five to 

 the acre), and the trees are best planted in 

 triangles, or quincunx, the holes being 3 ft. 

 cube. Again, we are told to leave them open 

 for a time, and after the plants have been put 

 in, the soil taken from the hole should be 

 mixed with well rotted manure, leaf mould, 

 &c., and the hole filled in with this mixture to 

 a depth of 1 8 in. In Nevis fine megass (sugar 

 cane fibre waste) is placed in the hole, and 

 as the plan is reported to have proved success- 

 ful, we do not see why coir- waste, when avail- 

 able, should not be used with advantage. 



When the trees grow up, all join in recom- 

 mending that a circle of 6 ft. to 8 ft. in diameter 

 around the tree be kept free of weeds, and 

 this circle, we are told, must be increased 

 as the tree 'increases in size. Above all, at 

 any age, whether seed-nut, seedling, or adult 

 tree, planters must keep the soil well drained; 

 let as much water as will pass over or through 

 the land, but see that none remains, especially 

 in the half-filled holes containing the seedlings. 

 On account of the possibility of this happening 

 some condemn this "pit" system of planting 

 as just described, but there should be no need 



