TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



CHAP. 



How the 



cuttings 



Mulching 

 the vines. 



the holes as distant as possible from the supports, and the 

 growing end should be directed towards the posts or tree on 

 which the vine is to run. When cuttings are set out in the 

 fields, three must be put in each hole, and their rooting ends 

 should be turned from the post and inserted six inches deep 

 in the ground. It is as well to bury all the cuttings except 

 about four inches, which should be placed against the post. 

 The plants should now be carefully covered up with leaves, 

 or dried grass and weeds, so as to protect the roots from the 

 sun, and to keep the ground moist and cool. The vines will 

 soon begin to grow rapidly if the planting operations have 

 been done in wet weather ; and, when they have run up the 

 posts for a distance of two feet, the ends must be nipped off 

 so as to cause lateral shoots to be developed. In some places, 

 when the vines have grown up the post to a height of five 

 feet, they are carefully detached from their supports and 

 the ends coiled up and buried in the ground. This operation 

 is called " letting down," and it induces more vigorous growth 

 and ensures larger crops. The land must be kept free from 

 weeds ; and, if the plants are of slow growth, manure may 

 be applied to the surface of the ground over the roots. It 

 must not be forked in, but it may be lightly covered with soil 

 from the vicinity. 

 Burnt earth. The Chinese pepper growers of Singapore use burnt earth 

 extensively as a manure, and it appears to answer very well 

 for the purpose ; rotten fish is also employed advantageously. 



Letting 

 down. 



Manuring. 



When the 

 vines bear. 



Crops. — In from two and a half to three years a small 

 crop may be expected, and the vines will be in full bearing 

 by the sixth or seventh year. Good crops may be reaped 

 for several years thereafter, and then the vines will decline 

 in vigour and fruitfulness. Under most favourable condi- 

 tions of soil and climate, however, the plants will go on 

 bearing well for much longer periods, and in certain in- 

 stances crops have been gathered up to the thirtieth year. 

 The fruits are small, round, and berry-like ; they grow loosely 



