186 [March 1907. 



districts of North-East India there is also a plentiful supply of humus, and those 

 who keep gardens have ready to their hand an unlimited supply of valuable 

 mulching material. In fact, mulching is so little practised in India, that we doubt 

 whether the majority of those who go in for gardening know the value of this 

 practice. Anyway, we have seen very little mulching done in India, hence the 

 frequent enquiries we receive as to what constitutes mulching. In fruit growing 

 especially the practise of mulching will be found a great help. Even such big trees 

 as the mango, lichee, etc., are greatly benefited by a mulch put on during the winter 

 months. We have often tried a mulch of leaves on mango and lichee trees with 

 very remarkable results. The usual practice is to remove the soil round the roots, 

 which are allowed to remain exposed for a few weeks and thereafter manure applied 

 and covered in with soil. This is not necessary when mulching is resorted to, and 

 the results are infinitely better, especially in the case of lichees and loquats. We 

 have proved this from actual practice, and can recommend it to all who go in for 

 fruit culture, whether on the plains or the hills.— Indian Planting and Gardening. 



Correspondence. 



PEPPER STEM DISEASE. 

 Dear Sir, — It may interest your correspondent, who asks in the current 

 number of your Magazine if there is any known remedy for pepper stem disease, to 

 know our experience here. I suppose we have suffered more than any one in Mysore 

 from this scourge, and the conclusion I have come to is that it is closely allied to, if 

 not identical with, stump-rot. In clearing the original jungle the stumps of the 

 felled trees were not removed, and in some cases the trees were simply ringed with 

 the result that, after a period of years, radiating from the stumps of the Curry- 

 haegle (Botanical name unknown to me) and Ramanudike (Myristica magnifica) 

 trees, the vines all died out, and where a ringed tree has since fallen, the vines on both 

 sides of the fallen log have gone out. Resides the vines the under-growth is also 

 affected ; most of the young standards within the affected area perishing, especially 

 the Hammuddy (Tetranthera Wightiana) and Sagady (Schleichera trijuga) trees. 



As prevention is better than cure (the only cure meantime being the drastic 

 one you mention, that of burning all affected vines, root and branch), I trust the 

 above will be of use to your correspondent if he is thinking of trying his luck at 

 pepper cultivation. 



Yours faithfully, 



RODERICK F, LAMB. 



February 11th, Hassan District, S. India. 



CHARACTERISTIC PLANTS OF NORTH CEYLON. 



I. 



Dear Sir,— In the Tropical Agriculturist for January, 1907, page 44, for 

 " Mud-Kilaori," wherever it occurs read " Mud-Kilavai." For "mud-mul" read 

 "mud=mul" For " Mullaithivu" read " Mullaittivu." For "Jennet" read 

 " Jemmett." 



J. P. LEWIS. 



Kandy. 



II. 



Dear Sir,— Mr. Lewis in his paragraph on the "MudKilaori" in the Janu- 

 ary number, is unable to say if this plaut is found in the Trincomalie District. I 

 supply the information. The plant is known as "Kiluvai" in Tamil, the thorny 

 variety being known as " Mud-kiluvai." Both varieties grow well here, thethornless 



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