36 THE BANANA 



itself being injured at its junction with the stem by the 

 pull of the cut. The roots on the undisturbed side of the 

 plant simply lengthened out a little and remained near the 

 surface, 5 in. being the lowest depth at which roots were 

 found. The plant did not show any ill effects from the 

 disturbance of its roots on one side. It is evident that the 

 rather drastic pruning enormously and very quickly in- 

 creased the root system, and thereby greatly multiplied 

 the power of the plant to absorb food material. 



But ploughing, so as cut the roots close to the stem, 

 should not be allowed when it is possible that the embryo 

 bunch is being formed, for the cutting off of the food 

 supply even for a short time, and even though much in- 

 creased later, might come just when food material is most 

 important in determining the size of the bunch. Further 

 experiments are necessary, and probably it will be found 

 that ploughing close to the stem may be done at the end 

 of three months from planting, but not later. After that 

 time, ploughing should be kept gradually further and 

 further from the plant as the roots grow out, and be dis- 

 continued in the sixth month. The cultivator may be 

 used continuously, if the earth mulch is employed. 



Where ploughing is not the practice, the fork is used to 

 great advantage when the young suckers are two months 

 old. Where the rains are constant and the soil heavy, 

 the cutlass is the best tool in weeding. The hoe, the 

 assam fork, and the cultivator are tools used under different 

 conditions. The disc harrow is an admirable instrument, 

 and should be in constant use so long as the soil is suffi- 

 ciently dry. If the ordinary plough forms a pan, a subsoil 

 plough is used occasionally to secure good drainage. 



