1 12 
S U M A T R A. 
The vines, as has been obfcrved, generally begin to bear in three years 
from the time of planting ; but their produce is retarded for one, o; per- 
haps two years, by the procefs of turning them down. This afterwards 
continues to encreafe, till the feventh or eighth year, when the garden 
is eftecmed in prime; and that flate it niain tains, according to the good- 
nefs of the foil, for one, two or three years^ when it gradually declines, till 
it grows too old to bear. Fruit has been gathered from fome at the age 
of twenty years ; but fiich inftances are very uncommon. 
A man and woman, if induftVious, may with eafe look after a garden 
of a thoufand vines ; beiides raifing paddee fufficient for their fubfift- 
ence : or one hard working man can perform it. In order to lighten 
the raik, a crop of grain is commonly, and may witho^it detriment, be 
raifed from the garden ground in the firll feafon* When cleared, juft 
before they fow the paddee, the fhort chinkareens are to be planted ; and 
when it is reaped, and the ftalks of it cleared away, thefe are of proper 
age to receive the vines. By thus uniting the objects of his culture, 
the planter may have a garden formed, without any other, (for a fea- 
fon) than the ufual labor ncceffary for raifing provifions for his family. 
The pepper gardens are planted in even rows, running parrallel and at 
right angles with eaeh other. Their appearance is very beautiful, and ren- 
dered more Hr iking by the contrafl: they exhibit to the wild fcenes of nature 
which furround them. In highly cultivated o*»wnuies, luch as England, 
where landed propert)' is all lined out, and bounded and interfered with 
walls and hedges, we endeavour to give our gardens and pleafure grounds, 
the charm of variety and novelty, by imitating the wildneffes of nature 
in ftudicd irregularities* Windmg walks, hanging woods, craggy 
rocks, falls of water, are all looked upon as improvements ; and the 
ftateiy avenues, the canals, and lawns of our anceftors, which afforded 
the beauty of contrail, in ruder times, are now exploded, Thefe 
different taftes are not merely the effed of caprice, nor entirely of re- 
finement, but refult from the change of circumftances. A man who 
fiiould attempt to exhibit on Sumatra, the modern, or irregular ftyle of 
laying 
