Ml'LCHIXG 41 



Tephrosia purpuraa. "Kivalai." T. (Leguminnsrc). Commonly 



employed as a mulch in the dry region. 

 Thalassia Hemprichii. Sea-weed. "Chatalai" or "Sathalai." TV 



Commonly used in Ceylon for coconut and rice plantations near 



the coast. 

 Thespesia populnea. "Stiriva." A mt-dimn-si/ed tree. 



FOR UP-COrXTRY: 

 See under "Green Mn miring." also "Shade trees for Crops." 



IXTER-CROPS AXD CATCH-CROPS 



The growing of two or more crops together on the same land 

 has many advantages over the exclusive cultivation of single 

 products, and though for economic reasons the latter system is usually 

 adopted, it obviously lends itself to the rapid spread of pests or 

 diseases. Plants in their natural state, where numerous species and 

 families are found growing together, are not nearly so subject to 

 such enemies as are large areas of single products. 



Advantages of subsidiary crops. The main advantages 

 claimed for inter-and catch-crops may be briefly stated thus : 

 (1) check on the spread of plant pests and diseases ; (2) revenue may 

 be obtained at more frequent intervals or in the interim of waiting 

 for a crop which takes several years to come into bearing e.g., 

 Rubber and Coconuts ; (3) the soil conditions may Ire improved ; 

 (4) weeds are kept in check; (5) mixed products have usually a 

 longer life ; and (6) it obviates the unwisdom of having all one's 

 eggs in one basket. 



Disadvantages. On the other hand, the system of inter- 

 cropping may have serious disadvantages under certain circum- 

 stances, as when the proper combination of products are not chosen 

 In this case the soil may become unduly exhausted, the inter-crop 

 or catch-crop may retard the growth of the principal crop, and the 

 proper attention of the management and labour force may be 

 diverted from the latter. It must be admitted, however, that with 

 suitable distance-planting, many of these disadvantages may be 

 overcome. 



MR. HERBERT WRIGHT estimates that about 100,000 acres of 

 Hevea rubber in Ceylon are mixed with Tea at low and medium 

 elevations and with Cocoa at medium elevations. In Sumatra, 

 few estates are planted with Hevea alone, while in Malaya and Java 

 also a considerable proportion of the Hevea plantations are inter- 

 planted with other crops. 



S-St\HAI.KSK ; r=TAMII. 



