181 
; d smaller 
or its period of maturity will be hastened. The practical outcome of 
very particular when cutting the leaves to cut them as close as possible 
to the stem of the plant. In other words, they consider it undesirable 
on 
“snag” is inevitable. This, howev 
leaving the central stem of the plant eventually quite clean. I am not 
prepared to attach much importance to this matter in relation to poling. 
It is undesirable as a matter of economy in fibre, and it may also have 
some effect on the general health of the plant. 
produce an unti 
altogether the practice of close cutting the leaves should be systemati- 
d 
ole at seven years, others at a later period. It is unlikely, if properly 
treated, that they will all pole over a large plantation at the same time. If 
the fact is realised, or at the first sign of poling, there need be little 
eut. The 
tend, as mentioned above, to prolong the vegeta 
