Lime-Growing on Clay Soils. 397 
shovel, nor must there be any neglect in watering the plant with an 
ordinary watering can, as soon as it is put into the ground. This will 
help to settle the roots and should be done even if it is raining at the 
time of planting. 
It is important also to cut back the branches a few inches at the 
time of planting. Too much care cannot be exercised with regard to 
the keeping of the roots protected when being transported, and whilst 
awaiting their turn at being put into their permanent places in the field. 
Too Gien the plant is put upon the mound by the “creole” gang, the 
sun being allowed to beat pitilessly down upon the more or less exposed 
root system. A safe distance for spacing is fifteen feet by fifteen feet. 
The holes having been carefully prepared, the plant can make a good 
and rapid start, its roots penetrating the loose soil easily. However, 
unless the most excellent drainage is afforded, nothing whatever can be 
accomplished. Heavy clays in rainy weather from the feet of the 
labourers soon become trampled and hopeless, so that it is most important 
not only to guard against this, but to keep all small drains well dug and 
an efficient sideline draining trench. 
At an early period. long before actual planting has been thought of, 
consideration must be given to wind-belts. If there is no natural wind- 
belt a quick-growing tree, such as the Hrythrina, must be established. 
Though not altogether suited to this purpose, yet from its quick-growing 
habit of growth, its nitrogenous-bearing nodules, its facility at establish- 
ment and its relative cheapness, it is by no means to be despised. 
Whatever means are adopted it must be clearly understood that 
protection from wind is a sine qué non, as not only does exposure to 
the wind mean a dwarfed habit of growth, but the flowers of the lime 
are very readily blown oft. There need be no protection from the sun, 
but on such a soil as we are writing of, it is exceedingly useful to grow 
Erythrinas right through the lime beds. By this we do not mean these 
Erythrinas, or as they are known generally, Sand-kokers, Oronoques or 
Bois Immortelles, must be allowed to grow into large trees overshadowing 
the lime plants, but that they should be established throughout all the 
beds, and at stated intervals cut right back to almost bare poles. Not 
only will the leaves atford a most excellent mulch but these prunings will 
also. By utilising the Erythrinas in this way, the surface soil will be 
immensely improved by the fall of leaf—the trees are deciduous—whilst 
the roots of the Erythrinas will open up and aerate the surface soil ; as 
limes are essentially surface feeders, and as such a soil must be encouraged 
to keep their roots on the surface, the immense amount of good a 
judicious use of this tree can be made to perform can only be estimated 
by those who have tried it. 
When the trees have grown somewhat and the mounds have begun 
to settle down, then it will be necessary to fork around them, so as to 
get a certain amount of tilth ready for the roots as they spread. Here 
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