102 THE WET CYCLE AND SHORT CROPS. 
pend upon it, the way in which manure is usually 
applied bas a great deal to do with the failure. Any 
sceptical planter may find this out for himself by 
manuring two equally good or bad patches of coffee - 
one patch by the old plan of big holes, the other 
patch by the process I reeommend. If he does not 
discover a marked superiority in the improvement of 
the latter, his experience will differ from my own. 
Yours sincerely, 
ORvUM. - 
——<— 
THE WET CYCLE AND SHORT CROPS. 
(Zo the Editor of the Ceylon Observer.) 
DzaR S1r,--The unusual quantity of rain which has 
fallen during the last few months would lead one to 
suppose that our worthy friend Mr, Tytler is right 
after all, and that we are fairly launched into the 
wet cycle, which, if his theory be correct, will con- 
tinue for years. - 
Whether this be so or not, it is but too evident 
that its effects this year have been most disastrous 
upon high estates generally, and that unless the fine 
weather we have experienced during the past few duys 
continues and brings out another blossom (it is for- 
ward in some districts) the crop of 1871-72 will turn 
out the shortest of any we have had for many years 
past. It behoves us therefore to consider how we 
may best counteract and mitigate the effects of future 
wet seasons, so far as it lies in our power. Chmate 
we cannot alter, but we may to some extent modify 
its influence upon our crop. 
ist and foremost in my opinion deep draining should 
be tried. I do not mean such drains as we generally 
see cut, to carry off the surface water only, drains 
18x18 inches, but at least 3 feet deep x18 inches 
or 2 feet wide, the nearer the better, but, for our 
purpose, probably every 12 or 15 yards would suffice. 
i need scarcely tell experienced planters, that the earth 
from their drains carefully spread over the surface 
and roots of the trees below the drains would be as 
good as a manuring, and should considerably reduce 
the cost of weeding and manuring, enough to cover 
the expense of draining the Ist year. 2nd, by water 
holes, as they are usually called, cut transversely 
across the slopes of the hills, size say 3 by 1d, or 2 
feet broad by 18 inches deep, should be cut between 
every other square of coffee tree, and the earth dis- 
tributed over the roots. I say ‘‘every other,” be- 
cause it reduces the cost one-half, and the operation 
could: be made to extend over two years or more. « 
