next proceeding is holing (which, as its name implies, is to 

 make* holes in preparation for planting the coffee, at the dis- 

 tances staked out by the lining). As coffee is planted in a 

 virgin soil, which cannot b^ cleared of roots, rocks, and logs, 

 for the operation of the pl<|ugh, and were it cleared of these 

 the disturbance of the soil would probably cause it to be 

 carried away by the heavy rains ; holes have to be made, and 

 the larger these are, the nearer the approach is to that move- 

 ment of the soil, which in general sets at liberty its fertilising 

 properties. Holes are made from 18 inches to 2 feet every 

 way, into which before planting the suri'ace soil is scraped 

 with a hoe. It is customary to contract for this work, which 

 I believe is generally performed now with a sort of crow- 

 bar having a spud blade at one end ; with these the roots of 

 trees are cut through and rocks and stones taken out, the 

 loosened soil being removed with the hand or with a cocoa- 

 nut shell. This tool is furnished to the Singhalese because 

 they prefer to sit down and work leisurely, but where men 

 can be employed at day-wages, and provided with mattocks 

 to break the soil and cut out the roots and stones, and hoes 

 to clear out the loosened earth, the same work may be far 

 more economically performed, inasmuch as the labourers 

 being on their feet give not only their arms, but their whole 

 body, to the exertion, and have not to raise themselves from 

 a sitting position between each hole they have to make. 



