fcoles for planting 317 



Another thick cord is then taken by two men who stretch it across 

 the ten parallel cords so that it will form right angles with them, at the 

 distance apart at which the furrows are to be made, and which is to be 

 measured off by poles. These two men place two stakes at the points 

 at which the two extremities of the cord, stretched taut, are to be 

 fastened. The stakers place the stakes at the points where the thick 

 cord crosses the ten parallel cords. 



In order to be certain that the cords cross at equal distances, it will 

 be well to measure the distances before setting the stakes. 



When all the stakes of one row are placed the cord is taken to the 

 next furrow, and the operation is continued in the manner described, 

 until the whole of the ground is staked. 



When a row of stakes has been placed, it will be necessary to 

 measure the distances with the poles only on the side on which there 

 are no stakes, since the superadded cord is fastened to those already 

 planted. Care should also be taken to use the carpenter's square every 

 time the cords are placed anew, as only in this way can the furrows for 

 the trees be made quite straight, and the trees form perfect squares. 



When they cross at some distance above the surface of the ground, 

 a stone is dropped from the point of their intersection to mark the 

 place where the stake is to be set. When there is a rock, tree trunk, 

 or other obstacle in the place where the stake should be set, this is not 

 placed on one side of it, as the symmetry of the furrows would be thus 

 destroyed, but the place is left vacant. 



Ten boys and an overseer plant in Ceylon as many as 2400 stakes a 

 day by this system. 



Respective Advantages of the Two Systems. The system of Laborie 

 would be perfect, on account of its simplicity, in level land recently 

 cleared, where the cord would rest upon the ground, but in hilly land 

 with virgin soil, where there are insuperable obstacles to the regular 

 placing of the stakes, the furrows could not be made straight, following 

 this system; and for this kind of land the system described by Mr. 

 Sabonadiere is therefore preferable. 



JS. Digging the Holes. In regard to this operation, which follows 

 the staking of the ground, the following points are to be considered. 



a. Time for digging the holes. 



b. Manner of digging the holes. 



c. Size of the holes. 



d. Planting without holes. 



Each of these points will be considered separately. 



a. Time for Digging the Holes. After planting all the stakes, a 

 hole is made in the place marked by each stake, which operation is 

 performed in Soconusco in April, at the beginning of the rainy season. 

 The earlier it is done the better. 



