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or 50 feet long, the path being between each bed. The best 

 plan is to plant them in rows 2f feet apart, with a 5 feet path 

 between every 3 or 4 rows. In any case the plants should not 

 be more than 2|- to 3 feet apart. 



" The fields require careful weeding, but are not generally 

 manured here. The first pines are produced from the suckers 

 in from 12 to 18 months. After the ripe fruit is removed the 

 suckers should be cut out, leaving only two or three of the 

 strongest. If all the suckers are left they will produce fruits 

 next crop perhaps as many as a dozen, but the fruits will be 

 small. If only one or two are left the fruits will be much 

 larger. 



" There are three crops in the year, November to December, 

 February and March, and the biggest in June and July, but 

 the crops depend very much on the rainfall. When there is a 

 spell of dry weather of long duration the pines do not fruit. 



" A properly cared for estate as cultivated in the Straits 

 Settlements lasts five or six years, but the pines gradually get 

 smaller. If neglected it lasts but two or three years. Doubt- 

 less an estate could be carried on for very many years, and 

 there is a record in the West Indies of a pine-apple field lasting 

 for sixty years. Pines remain on abandoned ground for very 

 many years and go on growing, but when over crowded or 

 covered with shrubs produce few or no fruits, and those that 

 are produced are small and poor. In long grass and bush 

 under shade the leaves often attain a great length, 8 or 9 feet, 

 and these are suitable for making fibre. 



Manuring. 



" Manure is not commonly used in the Malay Peninsula on 

 the large estates, but the Chinese occasionally apply a small 

 quantity of cowdung, burnt earth, &c. For tinning pines 

 which require to be cheap it would not be worth while to go to 

 the expense of manuring. In Jamaica, however, whore pines 

 are chiefly grown for the fresh fruit market, and consequently 

 a finer class of pine is required, manuring seems to be con- 

 sidered advisable if not necessary. It is recommended 

 (Jamaica Bulletin VIII., 1901, p. 139) if the soil be poor and 

 arid to fork in or plough in a good dressing of farm yard 

 manure, when breaking up the soil six months or so before 

 planting, and give a top dressing of wood ashes after the plants 

 have started to grow. Artificial manures are also largely used 

 in the West Indies. In clayey soils the application of lime 

 when preparing the ground is found Highly beneficial, and soils 



