68 COFFEE: ITS CULTIVATION AND PRO:I:\ 



the borders of the beds should not be so deep as 

 to keep a head of water standing about. 



There is not much more to be added on this 

 subject. The trespassing of animals must be guarded 

 against, as well as may be, by putting strings with 

 feathers attached from bush to bush along the out- 

 skirts, and by any other means that may suggest 

 themselves ; for it is astonishing what an amount 

 of damage an elephant or sambour will do in a night, 

 and most of it apparently wilful damage, if he 

 chances to get into the nursery during his rambles. 

 There is also a sharp look-out to be kept for rotten 

 branches, or, worse still, whole trees coming down 

 with a run and destroying several beds at a time. 

 This, however, is a matter that should always be care- 

 fully borne in mind when commencing operations. 



It is hardly necessary to say weeding must be 

 always going on in the nursery if there is anything 

 to pull up. Women and children, under a respon- 

 sible maistry, do this work sufficiently well, and 

 leave the men free for harder jobs ; they are lighter 

 and neater fingered, but want much watching and 

 " driving." As time goes on, if the same ground is 

 still used, as it may well be, for rearing young plants, 

 it will require manuring with leaf mould from the 

 adjacent jungle, and perhaps some litter from the 

 cattle-sheds, but in any case not much of the latter. 



The cost of a first nursery clearing, bedding, 

 draining, and planting should not be more than 

 Rs. 150, to which must be added the cost of seed. 



