1840.] on the Tenasserim Provinces, fyc. 173 



at least a year old, or the best of all, the rotten husk of paddy 

 mixed with earth, yielding a rich vegetable mould, which in the 

 neighbourhood of Burmese towns or villages is always to be 

 obtained. 



The nutmeg tree has a tap root descending perpendicularly 

 to a great depth, and which furnishes the chief nourishment. 

 To permit this root an easy penetration downwards, feeding it 

 in the best possible manner, is the reason why these holes 

 are dug. 



Considering the very great value of a nutmeg plantation, all 

 the care and necessary outlay are trifling compared with the 

 return. Nutmegs must be procured from Penang. In the 

 Tenasserim Provinces they are scarcely obtainable, and only at 

 an exorbitant price. When the holes are prepared the spice 

 plants are to be transplanted from the nursery, but such only 

 selected which have at least obtained the height of one foot. 

 Each tree separately is to be surrounded with a frame-work of 

 sticks and lateral shades, to be made from nipah palm leaves, 

 the top only loosely covered with leaves, to permit the dew to 

 penetrate, and in the dry season an earthen vessel is to be 

 suspended over the young tree, perforated with holes through 

 which constant moisture is made to drop upon the young plants. 

 All these operations should, if possible, be performed in the 

 first year, to save time. 



A careful weeding, if paddy is not planted, is unremitting- 

 ly necessary the first year, to eradicate all plants the seeds 

 of which germinate very easily in the much loosened and 

 rich soil. There are plants which are particular to newly 

 cleared places belonging to the families of Tiliaceae (Triumfetta 

 the most common) Malvaeae, Graminese, Convolvolaeae, &c. &c. 

 which are certain to be found even in the centre of a primitive 

 forest, in cleared places where before, not a specimen of these 

 species could be found for miles in the vicinity. Most of the 

 roots of the burnt down trees shoot again, and must be twice 

 or thrice destroyed before the roots decay. 



In the second year, annuals can yet be reared in the intervals 

 between the young trees, chiefly sesamum oil plants, cotton, and 

 indigo ; it would however be detrimental to take from the soil 



