16 



purpose, with which I mix a considerable amount of wood 

 ashes. With the aid of this only, I have kept plants growing 

 in the same spot for upwards of six years ; but consequent on 

 the then very crowded state of the ground, the stems were short 

 and very weak. I would therefore recommend a thorough 

 removal after four yeais, the land to be then well ploughed, 

 cleaned and manured. 



GATHERING THE CROP. 



The period of reaping will vary slightly according to differ- 

 ence of season. I find that in this district three good crops 

 can be relied on each year — the first during the latter end of 

 April, the second about the commencement of August, and the 

 third about the end of November; the weather here during the 

 remainder of that month is not sufiiciently cold to keep back 

 the new growth, mid should the young shoots appear above 

 ground early in January, the forests (sic) which are usual at 

 that period seriously injure them and lessen the spring crop. 

 My own experience indicates that the stems should be gathered 

 as soon as the cuticle shows a clear brown colour for about one 

 third of the length. At this stage, if the soil be good and the 

 plant healthy, the stems will be clean from butt to point, the 

 leaves of a rich dark green above, and pearly white below, and 

 the branch buds, at the axle of each leaf-stalk just showing. If 

 gathered earlier than this, I find the connection of the fibres 

 very weak, and that a considerable rortion separates in the 

 operation of scraping the peel. If allowed a further growth, 

 the axillary branches will have been thrown out, which will 

 cause breakages at every point both in peeling and cleaning. 



The average height of stems grown here has been six feet, 

 after cutting off the soft portion at the top. In gathering I 

 supply each coolie with a sharp pruning knife. With this they 

 cut the ripe stems close to the butt ; these are removed in 

 bundles by boys to the nearest manure pit. Here the boys cut 

 nine inches off the top and pass one hand with a gentle pressure 

 from top to butt; this removes all the leaves. The stems are 

 then placed in clean water, from whence the peelers remove 

 them and separate the peel, which is again thrown into water, 

 from which it is withdrawn as wanted by the men who clean 

 it. These lay three or four strips of peel on a flat board, scrape 

 it a few times on the inner side from butt to point, then turn it 

 over and repeat the scraping, which removes the cuticle : it is 

 then hung up, or thrown on clean grass to dry. 



Taking the distance of four feet apart for fully bearing 

 plants, an acre will contain (allowing for paths and water 

 channels) 3,000 plants ; more than this I find to be too crowded 

 and to increase labour, while lessening the actual yield during 



