248 



(I hardly think it likely that any one in this country 

 has had as long an experience of the cultivation of Tephro- 

 sia as a green-soiling plant, as it has only been used here I 

 believe for a year or so, but it has been utilised largely in 

 Java I believe and perhaps some of our readers there might 

 be able to give some account of its behaviour. 



But why does X want to cut it down and cart it away? 

 It is more advantageous to the rubber to leave it as it is, 

 occasionally cutting it over and mulching the rubber trees 

 with it. Carting it off the ground would be a blunder as it 

 means the removal of a large quantity of foodstuff in the 

 foliage and boughs which nutriment is intended for the 

 rubber trees. 



In all probability X would find in a few years the 

 Tephrosia would be quite shaded out by the rubber trees, 

 but if it still holds on so much the better for the rubber. I 

 should doubt that Crotalaria or Tephrosia could get their 

 work in supplying nitrates to the soil fully done in less than 

 three or four years. 



X speaks of his experience of Crotalaria as quite satis- 

 factory. Does this imply that he has had his soil analysed 

 before planting the Crotalaria, and after? and if so one 

 would very much like a report as to the results. 



Ed. 



Teluk Anson, 



20th April, 1909. 



The Editor of "Agricultural Bulletin," 



Singapore. 



Dear Sir, 



On reading my article on Tephrosia in the April issue 

 of your paper, I find that same contains several errors. To 

 have them all corrected is hardly necessary, only it is desir- 

 able to point out one. 



At the bottom of page 133 stands : 



Tephrosia. 



Cost of establishing Tephrosia . . . . $ 4 00 



Weeding expenses for 5 years per acre . . . . $100 00 

 This should be: 



Clean weeding. 

 Weeding expenses for 5 years per acre . . . . $100 00 



Yours faithfully, 



F. Zernichow. 



