CHAPTER III. 

 Planting and Shading. 



HE preparation of the land for planting is an 

 important and heavy work, especially if the 

 "round is covered with original Forest. In 

 Trinidad the Forest is usually cut b}- contract 

 at so much per " quarri^e," a Spanish measure of 

 3 l-5th acres. The wood is burned, and the 

 field cleaned, lined, and staked for planting. 



There are two methods of planting, which are followed by 

 planters according to circumstances. The first is to raise plants 

 from seeds placed at once in the position the trees are to 

 permanently occupy — commonly called planting " at stake," and 

 the second is to plant out the ground by using plants raised in 

 the nursery until they are from 12 to 2-i inches in height. 

 Generally, I believe the opinion of our planters is in favour of 

 Tisin" nursery plants, but there is much to be said in favour of 

 planting " at stake." Planting " at stake" means that the plant 

 once fairly started, never has its roots injured in any way by 

 the operation of transplanting and the roots must therefore ab 

 once and for all, assume their natural position. In using nursery 

 plants, or plants grown in bamboo joints, the roots must of 

 necessity get somewhat mutilated and sometimes curled or 

 twisted, although the endeavour of every planter should be to 

 r9,ise each plant with a ball of earth adhering, and to see that 

 the roots are preserved as intact as possible. 



In using either method of planting, the ground should be 

 well broken up around the exact spot where the planting is to 

 bp dqne. When seed is used, three selected seeds should be 

 placed in a triangle about 6 inches apart and covered with about 

 an inch of soil, pressing the earth somewhat firmly down with 

 the hand or foot, thus ensuring a more regular amount of 

 moisture around the seed than if the earth was left loose. In 

 transplanting plants from nurseries to the field the greatest care 

 should be taken to keep the roots as free from injury as possible, 

 a^d to secure daUs of earth to each plant. The roots must not. 

 in^ai^y case .^ 4diowed to become dry, and to secure a go^ 



