592 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTUEIST. 
[March 1, 1901. 
1 . Chikalda is on a plateau 3,600 feet above sea-level 
with more or less precipituous, dry and rocky slope? 
to the south, and on the north ravines with easy 
slopes and good, fairly moist soil, interspersed with 
steep and precipitous ground. Oa the north there 
are perennial streams ; to the south torrent beds 
with waterfalls during the rainy season. 
2. The Melghat Taluq * includes a southern 
extension of the Bitpura range, is hilly throughout 
and varies in elevation from 600' to 4,000' above 
sea level. 
The Tapti river and many of its tributaries rise 
in the Melghat and fall into the Indian Ocean, 
while the source of a main tributary of the Godavery 
is also within its limits, so that it forms a hilly 
well-watered part of the backbone of India. 
The average rainfall is 78," which falls mainly 
from June to September ; but the south-east and 
north-east monsoons sometimes give heavy showers 
in the autumn and winter. 
3. Lantana was introduced into Chikalda about 
1865, and was largely planted out for hedges. It 
flowers, fruits and the seeds germinate within a period 
of some five months and the plants grow freely from 
cuttings. Lantana was not recognised as a pest until 
about 1889, when it had overgrown the ravines, was 
spreading on the plateaux and even growing on the 
steep southern slopes. 
In 1893, when the health of Chikald* and appa- 
rently any reproduction of valuable forest growth in 
the vicinity was endangered, the general eradication 
ol Lantana vi&s decided on. 
4. To facilitate systematic working, the infested 
areas of the taluq were classed as — 
(a) Very dense growth, including heavy hedges 
several miles in length and masses of Lantana 
matted into forest growth in the ravines 
where it sometimes climbed to the tops of 
trees 30—40 feet high. 
(b) Dense growth scattered over extensive areas, 
but generally more accessible and easily des- 
troyed than the (rt) area iu and near Chikalda. 
(c) Scattered plots, dense in places, but easy of 
removal and in connection with vrhich the 
chief expenditure was incurred in finding the 
plots. 
The method adopted was to cut down t and 
thoroughly root up the plants, haul tlieai to open 
spaces, and there destroy with firei Rootlets left in 
the ground, it was found, did not shoot up, but 
plants and branches left lying on good soil readily 
took root. 
This operation was called " clearing " and embraced 
the 1st year's work in each area dealt with. 
In the 2ud year the areas were systematically gone 
over and all seedings etc., dug up, the operation being 
called the " 1st cleaning." In the case of dense 
areas cleared, the following rains brought up a moat 
complete crop of seedlings, which by August attained 
a height of 2 — 3 feet and flowered. 
In the 3rd year seedlings were less plentiful, 
but the growth from 2nd year seedlings, broken off 
in the course of extraction in the 2nd year, gave 
much trouble and another systematic 2nd cleaning 
was made. In areas of very dense growth a 3rd 
cleaning was necessary. 
Subsequent operations were called " scouring," to 
Carry out which gangs of weeders in lines in open 
order were taken rajiidly over the areas, once at the 
beginning aud it possible, again at the close of the 
rains. 
6. It is evident that the cost of the operations 
described cannot be correctly given by means of the 
* Area 1,650 square miles, and Chikalda, which is in 
t'le South-East of the taluq being about 7V30°E. and 
as-.-jo o N. 
t Mechanical arrangements for hauling out with 
blocks and tackle were ^ried, and failed 90 S«9re pf 
expense, # 
average cost per acre for the whole aei, and it is 
therefore given by classes : — 
(a) Areas (h) Dense , 
of very but more ^'^t" 
dense scattered tered 
growth. growth. gr&wlh. 
R. a. p. R. a, p. R. a. p. 
CLBiBING : 
Per acre ... 11 6 0 0 12 1 0 1 10 
Per sqr. mile... 7,280 0 0 483 5 4 73 5 4 
1st Cleaning : 
Per acre ... 0 10 6 0 8 0 0 0 9 
Per sqr. mile... 420 0 0 120 0 0 30 0 0 
2nd Cleaning : 
Per acre „. 025 009 0 09 
Per sqr. mile... 96 10 8 .30 0 0 .30 0 0 
3ed Cleaning ; 
Per acre ... 0 2 5 
Per sqr. mile .. 96 10 8 — _ 
The cost of scouring cannot be given per acre, but 
from 19110-01 about Rl.OOO a year is being spent in vpeed- 
ing over the whole taluq in areas formerly infested, and 
destroying any plots that have been previously over- 
looked. This charge will fall steadily from year to 
year, but the work must be continued for many 
years or until the destruction of Lantana at sight has 
become a custom. 
The cost of clearing and cleaning operations may 
seem high, but it is difficult to vividly describe the 
labour of digging and removing dense masses of prickly 
Jbantana from narrow ravines and wooded hillsidee. 
7. Taking the whole M^lgh-^t (l,C50 square miles') 
into account, R24,896 have been spent durin" the 
six years 1894-95 to 1899-1900. Acres 32,1.55-50= 
square miles, covered with T^antana, were cleared at 
a cost of R8,461 or R169 per square mile, whiie 
R16,435 were spent on cleaning and scouring. The 
average cost of cleaning is pat at R54 per square 
rnile, but the cost of the two operations cannot be 
given separately. It may be said that the erar!i 
cation of Lantana has been most successfully carriei 
out; the plant is rare in Chikxlda, and has to be 
searched for in other parts of the taluq. Still watch- 
ful care is needed to prevent the scattered plants 
spreading. 
8. When work was started in the Melghat, the 
extirpation of the plant throughout Berur w is also 
aimed at, and a clearance started with fair success 
in all districts. It may, however, be said that the 
growth of Lantana is generally only luxuriant in 
Berar in hilly districtSj 1,400 feet and unwaarda in 
elevation, and in places with fair soil and moisture. 
Pruning the Tomato.— When the fruit-bad 
appears we want to look out for suckers, which 
must be plucked off as fast as they appear. Keep 
in mind a straight, upright stalk, instead of the 
usual crawling vine we so often see. When the 
young truit begins to form, put a stake about 
4 feet long down on the opposite side of the 
fruit-bud, tie a cotton string around the tojnato 
stalk immediately under the fruit-bud, leaving 
the cord loose, and then to stake, repeating this 
as the fruit-buds appear. This holds the plant 
tirmly and causes it to grow straight and grace- 
ful, instead of falling all over the garden. Keep 
the suckers off by all means. When from four 
to eiglit fruit-buds appear, according to the 
fertility of the soil, top the plant, aud you will 
have a magnifisent cvo^ of tomatoes, whereas if 
you let them go to vine you will have but very 
few. If they fail to ripen, a few leaves cut from 
the lower part of the stalk to admit the air will 
hasten it. Keep the suckers down, and the fruit 
will continue to ripen a long time if they have 
water and attention.— §«ef»jfo?2cJ Agrkultural 
Jourml, 
