96 TROPICAL AGRICULTURK chap. 



must now be filled in to within an inch of the top, and the 

 pot knocked several times to settle the soil. When the pot 

 is used for raising a seedling, the seed may now be sown ; 

 but if plants from the nurseries are to be potted off, the 

 earth must be filled in only to the level of where the end of 

 the longest root will touch, and then the plant is put in — 

 being held in the centre of the pot — and the soil is packed 

 round the roots ; a few sharp taps on the bottom or at the 

 sides of the bamboo will cause the earth to settle nicely 

 amongst the roots and prevent any of them from being turned 

 up or doubled on themselves. The seedling being now 

 planted in the pot, the earth should be pressed down rather 

 tightly about the stem, so as to prevent too much evaporation 

 from the surface, and the operation is complete. The reason 

 Watering that a space of an inch is to be left between the surface of 

 the plants, ^j^^ earth and the top of the pot is because, in watering the 

 plant, there is a better chance for it to get a sufficient 

 quantity of moisture. The best way in watering, is to use a 

 can with a spout, and gently to pour in the water until it runs 

 over the sides of the bamboo. 



Preparation of the Land. — Having finished the nur- 

 series, the attention of the planter must now be directed to 

 P 1 1 nd ^^^ preparation of the land. Forest land rich in humus is, 

 best for of course, bcst suited for a new plantation, inasmuch as the 



coffee culti- , .„ , ... ., i i i i -n 



vation. plants Will grow better m virgm soil, and the land will not 



Cutting require any manure for a long time. The forest having been 

 down the ^^^ down, the branches must be lopped and strewn evenly 

 over the ground before the fire is set. Of course the felled 

 forest trees must be allowed to remain for a time exposed 

 to the sun, otherwise the smaller branches will not catch fire 

 properly. Where possible, it is better not to burn the bush 

 but to pack it in lines between the young coffee trees, in 

 order that, by its rotting, it may add to the richness of the 

 soil — otherwise the nitrogenous compounds so beneficial to 

 plant life are sent off into the atmosphere by the burning. 



