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or small jungle than over a bare soil, as its tendrils run 

 over the tops of plants, gradually smothering and bearing 

 them down as the weight of leafy matter increases. It is 

 therefore unnecessary to cut the grass before planting the 

 Passiflora [better known as Passion Flower. — Ed., C. 0.] 



In all estates it is customary to keep the rows of rubber 

 for 3 ft. on either side free from weeds, and to utilise the 

 plant it is best planted up the borders of the clean rows, 

 and induced to grow outwards over the intervening weeds. 



For lalang, a Selangor planter suggests a method 

 adopted by a native tribe of tying large double-handsful of 

 the growing grass together with a few blades of the 

 grass itself. This completely prevents growth, and the 

 rain in the tied bundle soon rots the growing points. By 

 planting cuttings or seed of the Passiflora between the 

 bundles, the whole field will be over-run in a few weeks or 

 months and the lalang entirely destroyed. 



When the growth has attained its maximum, and be- 

 fore the plants die down, the whole mass of material, usual- 

 ly 12 in. to 18 in. deep, can be rolled up like a huge carpet, 

 leaving the surface soil in a perfect loamy condition, and 

 quite clean and free from weeds. Such material is best 

 mulched in large rings round each rubber tree, so that there 

 is no continuous line of dry material running through 

 the field, though the chance of damage from fire of such 

 material is very remote. 



Unlike Crotalaria, this plant is not leguminous, and 

 consequently does not increase the total nitrogen in the 

 soil. But from its dense low habit of growth, which entire- 

 ly covers the soil, keeping it constantly moist, and the large 

 amount of organic matter resulting from the fall and decay 

 of the leaves, &c, the beneficial effect is very marked. This 

 is especially so on soils poor in organic matter as are many 

 of our Ceylon soils, and for products, such as Para Eubber, 

 which require a humid atmosphere and an ample supply of 

 moisture in the soil. 



The composition of the plant is shown by the following 

 analysis of the various parts made by the Acting Chemist, 

 the whole plant when sun-dried losing on an average 70 per 

 <.'ent. of moisture: — 



3S I E CHAN I C AL A N ALYSIS. 



Per Cent. Per Cent. 



Hoots . . . . . . 5*0 Green stems . . . . 42*0 



Leaves and fruits . . 42-0 Woody stems . . . . 11*0 



