THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST^ 
[July i, 1890. 
to do this effectually and at the same time on a 
simple and expeditious plan, (for 3 parahs of seed) 
half an acre of forest should have the underwood 
cleared away and be otherwise partially thinned, 
leaving only sufheient trees to ensure a light shade 
to the soil beneath them which should be rourjhly 
turned up with mamoties without regard to roots. 
In this Slate the seed should be sown upon it broad- 
cast, and afterwards covered in with a rake break- 
ing the lumps of earth &o. Should any seed appeal- 
above the surface, after this operation, they m.ay be 
buried by a cooly going over the ground with a small 
stick and making a hole by its side so as to allow 
it to fall in. Judgment should be next employed 
in selecting proper and convenient sites for trans- 
planted nurseries ; they should be so chosen as to 
avoid as much as possible unnecessary waste of 
labour in removing them hence to their final situations. 
On every 100 acres three sites may be fixed upon of a 
little more than f acre each, which being stocked 
with the now rising plants, at one foot asunder 
would be sufficient for that quantity. The soil for 
this purpose should be entirely cleared of brush- 
wood and forest and as much of roots as may 
not prove too expensive and laborious ; it should be 
also well turned up and renovated. If the seeds 
have been sown in November or December, the seed- 
lings will be fit to transplant during the rains in 
April and May ; care should be observed in raising 
them with a spade, they should not be forcibly 
drawn from the soil, but shaken out preserving all 
the fibrous roots ; in selecting them from the seed 
ground, avoid any that are very weak ; with a sharp 
knife SQorten the tap root* and also all long spreading 
lateral roots ; they will be now ready tor planting 
out, the gruund having been prepared as directed, 
lines should be next drawn (with a spade), f a drill or 
small ir^nch should be made by its side, and by 
hand the plants should be placed against it 1 foot 
apart, drawing and lightly pressing the loose and re- 
moved soil against them as the work proceeds ; care 
should be taken that they are not placed deeper 
in the earth than about one inch below what they 
were originally. By this process the use of the dibble 
* Many persons offer objections to the practice here 
recommended, but the motive for_ observing it in all 
establishmeiits where transplanting is carried on to any 
extent, is obvious, the simple opera ion of cutting off 
the lap root, m rely weakens an unprofitable part to 
ftre gthe.i useful ones, the lateral and fibrous roots 
a e ihrowii out m ire numerously and with greater 
vigour, and it is from these alone that a tree derives 
its principal support from the earth. The tap rout is 
rather an e.onga.'.ion of the stem downwards, and is a 
conductor of the returning sap that has been separated 
in the body of the plant from the necessary secretions 
formed for its growth (length is not an object in this 
process), therefore, in addition to other reasons, by 
chequering the probability of its penetrating a subsoil 
injurious to its health, we do a service to the plant. 
Tap roots often decay in bad subsoil andthus a disease is 
ingendered, which by its natural tendency to ascend, 
will in times destroy the plant ; hence it is want of 
health and not deficiency in length or dimensions of a 
lap root (a) from which (if from this source at all) the 
plant receives its injury. It may be questioned, for 
wiiat has nature provided a tap root ? And much may 
be said in favour of its preservation when, nature is 
left alone^ but site o/iZy can know the true circumstances 
that call for its use, and when art is resorted to, its 
entire abandonment can be reasonably defended on a 
d)iB coni-ideration of known consequences. 
f The word came before us as “ shade,” but we do 
not quite understand Mr. Lf-ar recommending the use 
of a spade, an ” agricultural implement ” seldom used 
ill the cultivation of coffee in Oeylon. ItD. T. A. 
a ( lining tliis root when plants arc old, such as make 
hluMiiiH, iiMkcn a weuml that HChlom entirely licals; the 
Bi me operation performed when the plant is youncf Of OYCT- 
rewu and tc&rccly Icavet a cicatrice. 
is dispensed with, which is at all times objectionable 
when it can be avoided; thereis no occasion for bedding 
as is commonly practised in this work. By following 
the preceding remarks, the now transplanted seed- 
lings will be fine plants and fit for final removal in 
four months. In planting an estate, various plans are 
chosen and adopted by different individuals, who have 
perhaps equal pretentions to the right one, each fol- 
lowing that which long custom may have dictated, 
and upon which they are capable of forming correct 
calculations, and this is so far right, but it shows an 
evident want of a general system founded upon en- 
quiry into the c' ear truths of vegetable Physiol ogy 
where it may be learnt that whatever course is found 
to be most consistent with the laws of nature is the 
most preferable one to pursue, and wise experience 
in Horticulture has most fully proved the fact. 
This is advanced merely to show the absurdity of 
that unsparing and unjustifiable mutilation which 
cannot be avoided in preparing and planting stumps. 
Seedlings are always preferable, and it is well to ob- 
serve here that much depends upon the choice of seeds ; 
they should be gathered when perfectly ripe, and 
if possible from young and vigorously healthy trees. 
In planting, it is advisable to have holes made, and 
they should be rather wide than deep, say 9 or 10 
by 16 inches. 
J. G. Leak 
Peradenia, December 7th, 1840. 
Colombo, December 18th, 1840. 
The Rt. Hon’ble the Governor of Ceylon, &c., 
&o., &o. 
Dear Sir, — I beg to return Your Excellency my most 
sincere thanks for the flattering testimonial you 
have been pleased to furnish me with. In reference 
to Your Excellency’s wish for my further ideas on 
Coffee planting, I have the honor to annex a memo- 
randum, and which I trust will be found useful. With 
regard to the vines at Queen’s House, I very much 
fear they are too large for removal to such a dis- 
tance as Kurunagalle, particularly at this exceed- 
ingly dry season, and as cuttings root so easily, I 
should unhesitatingly advise some to be sent in 
preference to the old vines, the result I feel confi- 
dent would be quite as satisfactory. The Mohandi- 
ram is also very unwell, so much so, that he 
cannot come into the Fort to see me, which circum- 
stance I am most sorry to say forms an obstacle to 
the furtherance of the work Your Excellency was 
anxious I should attend to. I have however seen 
Mr. Venom with wh .m I hope to make such ar- 
rangements as will favour its completion under 
other guidance; Since my time in Colombo is now so 
very short, cuttings of all the vines I will not neglect. 
I have to offer my grateful acknowledgments 
for the kind enquiries Your Excellency makes for 
my health, and am rejoiced to say the change to 
Colombo had greatly benefitted me, I must now 
conclude by requesting that Your Excellency will 
condescend to believe my prayers will be constantly 
offered for uninterupted health and happiness 
to your excellent self and family. With most 
dutiful respect, I have the honor to be. Dear Sir, 
Your Excellency’s most obedient and faithful 
Servant, 
J. G. Leak. 
Memorandum, 
Coffee plants 9 or 10 months old are preferable 
to any others for plantation ; they will be then 
about 10 inches or 1 foot high ; it is not material 
that they should have begun to branch out, if the 
plants are stocky and healthy ; I should neverthe- 
less rather they had one pair of lateral branches. 
Distance in rows ought to be determined with a 
