35 



before being sown, are germinated on moistened sheets, 

 which became necessary to protect the grains in the plots 

 from injury caused by ants. 



When the grains have germinated, which is to be 

 seen by their changing of colour, they are removed from 

 the sheets, mixed with ash and then sown on the plots. 



The seed-plots are similar to those used for the 

 cultivation of coffee, only instead of fixed coverings, 

 they are adjustable to permit the regulating of the 

 light. 



Much care must be taken of the grains in the 

 plots. At first they should be watered at least twice a 

 day ; the sun is only allowed to penetrate in the morning. 

 After some time one watering suffices, and only the after- 

 noon-sun should be avoided. 



5. When the plants are about 40 or 50 days old, 

 they may be transplanted in the prepared grounds. It is 

 necessary also to protect them during the early days 

 against the sun, which is done by covering each plant 

 with a bent leaf fixed in the soil, or the plants are cov- 

 ered with a little rice-straw. At the very first they also 

 need to be watered. 



After two weeks the covering is taken away and 

 the ground around the plants made loose. Later on this 

 process is repeated by means of the patjol (a kind of 

 spade). 



Generally the plants are set at a distance of from 



