12 COFFEE PLANTERS’ MANUAL. 
circumstances being equal, turn out as good as theirs. 
For further tests you must be left to your own sagacity 
and the experience of your neighbours. Instances have 
occurred of some of the most experienced Planters in Cey- 
lon being deceived in their selection of forest land so far 
as this liability to wind and storms is concerned. 
INUNDATED BY WATER.—Beware of opening too 
close to the side of a river liable to overflow its 
banks, as such overflow may destroy a fine field of 
coffee when in full maturity, your labour and ex- 
pense in bringing it to that age being labour in 
‘vain. Beware also of opening on the slope of a 
mountain where rain is perpetual. This is perhaps a 
strong expression, but there are some mountains on 
which the rainfall is excessive. On such the soil 
soon washes away, besides causing the growth to 
run chiefly to wood. Be advised by your neighbours 
and avoid such situations. 
Lintine, Pecerne, Honing anp Piantine.—Well 
now, you have got your land, felled it, lopped if, 
burned it off and cleared it up,—at least as much 
of it as you wish to open at the outset. What 
must you do then? Your next duty will be to Line 
and PEG IT, so as to be ready for holing. Ist, then 
let us see to the pegs. hese are pieces of wood, 
sharpened at the pointe, about 2 and 23 feet long, 
and eay 1 inch thick at the top. They are found 
either on the clearing or in the jungle, whichever 
may be most convenient for your present operations, 
and are obtained by splitting up a tree into suitable 
sizes, having previously cut it into the lengths re- 
quired, ‘This is done with the axe and catty, anda 
good workman will cut 400 in a day. A good splitt- 
ing wood should be chosen for this purpose, such as 
Keena, Malaboddy, Doong, &c. Any wood with 
jong straight fibre will suit, of which there are many 
descriptions in Ceylon. A sufficient supply of these 
pegs having been obtaioed, proceed to line. This is 
done with a rope of about 4 inch thick. English 
hempen rope is the best, because it does not stretch 
so much as either jute or coir. Fasten pieces of 
rag to the rope, at suitable distances, tnese 
being decided according to the number of plants 
you wish to have per acre. 5 ft. x 5 ft. is perhaps 
the most common distance—5 ft. x 6ft. is by many 
preferred, while 6 ft. x 6ft. is not uncommon, and 
suits well where the soil is rich and free. The longer 
distances of 7 and 8 feet which were at one time 
approved by Planters have long since been discarded. 
5 x 5 will give about 1,740 trees to an acre, 
(9a oF) ’ 52 29 29 
5 x 6 
6 x 6 39 23 1,210 oe) 99 
