Correspondence. 



415 



[June 1907. 



geous Ingasaman, show no traces of the effects of " drip," resulting from the dense 

 overhanging leaf -canopy of the latter. Polyalthia is indigenous to Ceylon, and it is 

 surprising that it is not used locally in the same way as in Calcutta ; but whether 

 it will prove as suitable here as there remains to be seen, for the way that trees 

 alter their habits of growth uuder different natural conditions is surprising. In the 

 South of India some of the finest avenues are made up of the Tamarind, which 

 xhibit strikingly symmetrical proportions, suggesting artificial trea \j ment at the 

 hands of the pruner. Specially good work has been done in some districts in the 

 planting up of fruit and timber trees along country roadsides. In the Mozufferpore 

 district over 200 miles of roadway have been planted at a cost of Re. 1*8 ans. per tree 

 to the Provincial Road Committee, by whom the work was carried out. All the plant 

 were first raised in pots on Resthouse and District Engineers' premises, and trans- 

 planted when about two years old. The plan adopted is to arrange some four or 

 five hundred pots at the bottom of a trench, about square, and fill in the inter- 

 spaces with earth. By keeping the rims of the pots slightly lower than that of the 

 surrounding land, moisture is easily supplied by means of irrigation from an 

 adjacent well. The chief item of expense is the construction of a gabion, consisting 

 of a plaited bamboo fence 6 feet high, to effectually prevent damage by cattle. 

 Under ordinary circumstances a few preliminary waterings are only necessary to 

 establish the plants, but exceptionally moisture is supplied at later stages by 

 burying earthenware pots, full of water, in close proximity to the plant, to act as 

 reservoirs. 



Among fruits are to be found the Mango, Bael, and Jak ; among timber trees 

 Mahogany, Dalbergia and Toon. The usual distance apart is 30 feet. It has been 

 found desirable to plant up at least one mile with the same tree. This arrangement 

 is perhaps more conveninent for purposes of leasing. No particulars under this 

 latter head are available, but the returns are said to be substantial. 



It is to be hoped that the suggested local experiment will be undertaken 

 before long, and that results will warrant the undertaking of preparations similar 

 to those detailed above. The trial might also test the relative advantages of direct 

 expenditure as well as Mr- Stouter's contract system. 



Yours truly, 



C DRIEBERG. 



PASPALUM GRASS FOR COCONUT PLANTATIONS. 



Fiji, March 11. 



Dear Sib,— I shall be glad to know if it has ever come to your knowledge 

 that Paspalum dilatatum is a bad grass to plant in a coconut plantation. One 

 planter here tells me it is bad. "Sensitive plant" makes splendid food for cattle, 

 and is very good for the nuts, but the labour cannot work in it without being 

 supplied with boots, and that is a heavy item. 



I shall be glad of your advice. 



Yours, 

 H. H. THIELE, 



[In Ceylon the grass does not succeed below 3,000 feet, which is too high for 

 coconuts. "We cannot therefore speak from any experience.— Ed. " T. A."] 



DURABILITY OF SATIN WOOD. 



Jaffna, 29th April, 1907. 

 DEAR SIR.— The Assistant Archaelogical Commissioner gave me part of a 

 door frame which he found in a cave near Mihintale, and which he estimates to be a 

 least 1,000 years old. The wood is satin wood, and is a splendid example of the. 



