& U M A T R A? 
of yegctatioiVj as are expended in their nourilliment. I believe it is not 
obferved, that ground, covered with large trees, or other perennials, is 
much impoveriflied by them; which perhaps may only be the cafe with 
annuals. Of this however I do not pretend to judge. 
The chinkarcens are planted one fathom, or one fathom and a quar- 
ter, afunder, that they may not impede each other's growth, or keep 
too much of the air from the vines. The boughs are carefully lopt 
from the item, and the top cut in fuch a manner, as to make k fpread 
in an umbell, for the purpofe of more efFedually lhading the garden. 
The proper feafon for lopping them, is during the rainy months, or 
November, December, and January, which, bcfide the view to their 
ihooting forth again towards the dry feafon* prevents the plants from 
being injured by the dropping from the branches. Great affiduity is re- 
quired of th^ planters, to keep the gardens from being overrun with 
weeds and Ihrubs, which would foon choke the plants. Thefe they re- 
move with the pran^ (bill) and hoe; taking care not to injure the roots 
of the pepper: yet, in the hot months of June, July, and Augufl:, they 
fuffer the ground to remain covered with iallang (long grafs), as it con- 
tributes to mitigate the efFeiEts of the violent heat upon the earth, and 
preferves the dews, that at this time fall copioufly, a longer time on the 
ground; which tends much to encourage the growth of the young vines^ 
and thofe newly tur/ied down* 
The plants of the pepper are moft commonly taken from the flioots 
that run along the earth, from the foot of an old vine ; and as thefe, 
from almoft every knot or joint, flrike roots into the ground, and flioot 
up perpendicularly, a fingle joint, in this flate, is a fufficieht plant for 
propagation. It requires at firft fome little affiftance, to train it to the 
chinkareen; but it will foon fecure it's hold, by the fibres that fpread 
from the joints of it's ftcm and branches. 
Two vines are ufually planted to one chinkareen, Thefe are fuffered 
to grow for three yeart, with only a little occalional attention; by 
F f which 
