28 THE BANANA 



5 supplied by the natural rainfall, and they are quite as 

 important on hill-sides as on flat ground. It might be 

 thought that on sloping ground the rain will drain off 

 naturally without leaving any water to accumulate and 

 become hurtful ; but even so, the soil becomes saturated, 

 and unless drains are made air cannot reach the roots. 

 Forking alone on hilly land will not suffice, for there is the 

 danger of heavy rain carrying off the soil. The drains on 

 a hill-side should be made across the slope, with only just 

 sufficient fall to carry off the water towards that part where 

 the soil is least fertile, and at that part the drains should 

 be deepened and widened, and made horizontal, so as to 

 act as catch- pits for soil and debris, which can be dug out 

 and spread as a most valuable top-dressing. If possible, 

 the overflow from such catchments may be got rid of in 

 natural gullies, but care must, of course, be taken not to 

 lose any of the washed material down the gully ; where 

 there is a risk of this, another catch-pit may be made at a 

 slightly lower level than the first, and the overflow taken 

 into it. In making drains it is a great mistake to make 

 them too shallow, from motives of economy ; they should 

 be not less than 2 ft. deep, and sometimes the depth should 

 be more than 3 ft. If the soil of the hill -side is loamy or 

 sandy, catch-pits only will probably suffice. 



