PLANTS OF PRINCE OF WALES ISLAND. 63 



soil, plant the pepper vines and the trees which are to support 

 them. It is usual to contract with them for making the plan- 

 tation in this manner, and taking care of it for three years, at 

 the end of which time it is in bearing at the rate of 225 dollars 

 for 1,000 plants. The sum is liquidated by instalments, as the 

 contract requires it, to pay his workmen. Something more 

 than one third is paid in the first year, because the labour is 

 then greatest ; but about one fourth of the whole is generally 

 reserved, till the contract is completed, and the plantation 

 delivered over. This does not include the price of the plants, 

 or cuttings, which are found by the proprietor of the planta- 

 tion. 



The vine is first made to climb on a pole. At the end of 

 ten or twelve months, it is detached from the pole, to undergo 

 the process called laying down. A circular hole, about 

 eighteen inches in diameter, is dug at one side of the plant. 

 At the bottom of this the plant is carried round in a circle, and 

 the end of it is brought to the tree which is in future to form 

 its support. The depth of the hole, in which the vines are laid 

 down, varies, according to the situation and nature of the soil; 

 and much judgment, to be acquired by practice, is requisite, 

 to adapt it to these circumstances. In high and dry situations, 

 the depth must be considerably greater than in those which 

 are low and moist. Too little depth in the former would ex- 

 pose the roots to be parched in dry seasons ; and too much in 

 the latter would occasion them to rot, from excess of moisture. 



The trees used for supporting the pepper vines on Prince 

 of Wales's Island are the Morinda citrifolia (Munkoodu) and 

 the Erythrina corallodendron (Dudup). The Chinese planters 

 alledge that the pepper supported by the Erythrina thrives 

 better, and lasts longer than that supported by the Morinda. 

 One instance I heard quoted in proof of this assertion, w T as a 

 plantation which had long been neglected, and overgrowm with 

 weeds. When it came to be examined the vines which had 

 grown on the Morinda were all dead ; while those on the 

 Erythrina were still strong and productive. The reason as- 

 signed by the planters, for the difference is, that the roots of 

 the Erythrina do not spread so much, or penetrate so deep as 



R. A. Soc, No. 53. 1909- 



