TEAK PLANTATIONS. 315 



so many workmen and maistries, both for working the plan- 

 tations, and for the management of the natural woods (making 

 good roads of communication as the plantations advance), are 

 all objects of essential consequence to future success in a new 

 undertaking, and have all been carefully attended to. I have 

 thus far expressed an opinion upon what I have seen. I do not 

 pretend to offer any opinion upon the result, as I am unacquainted 

 with the quality of the soil or subsoil generally throughout 

 Malabar ; but I have been able to assist Mr C, by informing him 

 that the best mode of ascertaining the suitability of the soil to 

 the tree is to dig pits near fine-grown teak trees, as deep as 

 the end of the tap-roots penetrate, and experience will after- 

 wards teach him, from the appearance of the surface-soil, what 

 kinds of subsoil he may expect to meet, and how far the situa- 

 tion selected is adapted for bringing the teak timber to matu- 

 rity ; I believe I may give the above opinion as an axiom not to 

 be controverted. In Great Britain, this labour is not required, 

 as the stratification of the soil is generally known from means 

 not possessed in this country. I may remark, from all I have 

 heard and observed, that teak requires the same soil as oak, viz., 

 a strong pure clay ; and from the peculiar localities in which the 

 teak forests of Malabar and Canara are found, dotted as they 

 are over the immense tracts of jungle and forests of other woods, 

 there is sufficient evidence of their partiality for particular soils 

 and situations, and it may be found that there is an imperative 

 necessity for teak being planted in the quality of soil it natu- 

 rally prefers — at all events, a due consideration should be early 

 given to this vital point by Mr 0., as a tree in the latter years 

 of its growth may become defective, from not giving timely 

 attention to these circumstances. 



" In thinning and pruning the plantations, great practical ex- 

 perience is required; and I should say from my observations, 

 that in Malabar more than in any' other country in which I 

 have travelled, this arises from the great rapidity of vegetation. 

 In the four year old plantation, an experienced planter could tell 

 the age of the trees from the marked difference of the bark on 

 each year's growth, which is beyond any former experience of 

 mine in other countries. From the great weight of leaves on the 



