220 COFFEE AND TEA CULTIVATION. 
to pass along, even when the trees are full grown. 
‘¢«Where manure is obtainable, and the soil can be- 
kept up to a rich state by yearly applications a. 
garden can scarcely be planted too close. 
““*T see no objection to trees touching each other 
in the lines, and advise therefore, 3 or 34 feet there, 
——the former where the soil can be _ periodically 
manured. 
‘¢‘On considerable slopes, to prevent the wash of soil’ 
the plants should be placed as close as_ possible,—say 
34 between, and 2 feet in, the lines. 
‘*<A closely planted garden will grow less weeds. 
than a widely planted one, and will consequently 
be cheaper to work. 
‘““Asthe expenditure on a garden is in direct pro- 
portion to the area, and the yield in direct proportion 
to the number of plants, (always supposing there is 
power enough in the soil to support them), it follows 
that a closely planted garden ‘‘ must” be very mueh, 
more profitable than the reverse.’ 
“‘T have often in India discussed the subject of Hedge. 
Planting’ (that is of plants placed so close together 
in the line that they will form a continuous hedge, 
like a quickest hedge) with other planters. All such. 
discussions have been thoretical, for on no planta- 
tion in India have I seen the plan carried out. I 
have always been in favour of the system, though I 
admit I have never been bold enough to reduee. 
it to practice. Now, however, after the figures as to. 
produce in Java given you in my last, I taink it 
very necessary to say what Ican about it, and invite. 
the opinion of others. : 
“ The objection against the plan advanced by its op-- 
ponents are: 1.—The bushes so close together in the. 
lines (say two feet apart) have not room to develop, 
and consequently ‘ cannot’ giveas much leaf as plants. 
further apart. 2.---That the tea shrub requires sun and’ 
air, and that, placed thus close to each other, they 
‘only get this on ‘two’ sides. 3.—That the roots run 
into each other, and occupy the same soil, and thus 
each individual plant only receives a moiety of the. 
nurishment is is entitled to. 4.—That the leaf pick- 
ing area of each bush is diminished ; for joining each 
other as they do only two sides and the top are. 
available. I know of no objections, besides these, 
which can be advanced against the system. 
“‘ Werethe object to produce the largest quantity 
of leaf per plant, the above objections would all be. 
sound, and fatal to the system under discussion. 
But it is not so. The result sought is the largest: 
quantity of leaf obtainable if per any given area, say- 
