at Bencoolen^ m the Island (^'Sumatra. 131 
hesion broken, in order to admit of the free expansion of the 
roots of the tender plants, and that it be intimately mixed with 
burnt earth and cow-manure, in the proportion of two-thirds of 
the former to one-third of the latter. The plants are to be set 
in rows, as well for the sake of regularity as for the more conve- 
nient traversing of the plough, which is now to be employed in 
clearing the intermediate spaces of lallang and other noxious 
grasses, carefully avoiding to trespass on the beds of the trees. 
They must be watered every other day in sultry weather, ma- 
nured annually during the rains with four garden- baskets of the 
above mentioned compost to each tree, and protected from the 
sun till they attain the age of five years. They will then be 
sufficiently hardy to bear the sun, and from that age until their 
fifteenth year, the compost should consist of equal parts of cow- 
dung and burnt earth, and from eight to twelve baskets of this 
vvill be required for each bearing tree, a lesser proportion being 
distributed to the males. From the power of habit, the trees 
will, after the fifteenth year, require a more stimulating nutri- 
ment ; the dung ought not, therefore, to be more than two or 
three months old, and the mixture should consist of two parts 
of it to one of burnt earth, of which the suitable proportion will 
be from twelve to sixteen baskets to each tree biennially. 
In all plantations, whether situated in forest lands or in the 
plains, the necessity of manuring at stated intervals has been 
found indispensable, and is indeed identified with their pros- 
perity. The proper mode of applying it is in a circular furrow, 
in immediate contact with the extremities of the fibrous roots, 
which may be called the absorbents of the plant. In a scarcity 
of dung, recourse may be had to the dregs remaining after the 
preparation of the oil from the fruit of the Arachis Hypogaea 
in mixture with burnt earth, which is a very stimulating ma- 
nure ; or composts may be formed by the decomposition of 
leaves or vegetable matter of any description. Sea-weeds and 
many other articles may also be resorted to, which will readily 
occur to the intelligent agriculturist. 
During the progressive growth of the plantation, the beds of 
the trees are to be regularly weeded, and the roots kept properly 
covered with the mould, for these have a constant tendency to 
seek the surface ; the growth of the lateral branches alone is to 
