»7 
field m baskets. Here the cylinders will be carefully separated into 
their component halves. The plants with their surrounding soil will 
then be carefully inserted into the centre of the pit in an erect natural 
position and the soil firmly pressed round the roots with the feet. A 
thorough watering will be given immediately after putting in the 
plants and if rain holds off a few successive waterings, at intervals 
of 2 or 3 days, will be of much benefit to the plants. This is quite 
a simple matter in abandoned mining land where water holes exist. 
At least four waterings should be given so as to reduce the per cent- 
age of failures to a minimum. 
{g). Replacing of failures. — The previous years’ failures should 
be regularly replaced by carefully going over the area in a systematic 
manner. By the adoption of tile-pot transplants, by which an effi- 
cient count can be effected, it should be expected that the failures 
should not exceed io per cent at the outside. 
(li). Pruning. — In the third or fourth year the lower branches 
may be carefully sawn off to adroit light and a free circulation of 
air. This operation should be carried out with the greatest care and 
had better be left undone than done badly or roughly, Casuarina 
stands pruning none too well, witness the length of "time a young 
plant takes to replace a lost leading shoot. Older trees have been 
known to die back when once their leading shoot is topped, by what- 
ever cause. 
(i). Hedging. — If necessary for fire or wind protection a hedge 
or belt 20 feet wide should be raised, of Tembusu ( Fagraea frag- 
rans) or Jambu Ayer Laut ( Eugenia grandis), preferably the latter 
which like Tembusu grows readily from seed but withstands dam- 
age from fire to a greater extent. Hedging would be carried out 
only if ground fires from adjoining Lalang wastes are dreaded. 
{j). Need of working plan and plan of operations. — The objec t of 
these is that the work shall be carried out in a regular and systema- 
tic fashion and a due control be exercised on the results of working, 
A few points as to method and stages of treatment will now be 
suggested. As previously remarked careful pruning may be carried 
out say in the third year. Where the distance of planting is 6 feet 
by 6 feet alternate plants may be cut out at the fifth year and the 
thinnings sold for fuel or poles If the plants are 6 feet by 6 feet 
pruning in the third year may be dispensed with for the alternate 
plants, to be removed in the fifth year. A t least 20 acres should be 
taken in hand as a “ plantation ” coupe in any one year and all such 
coupes should be distinctly separated by cleared lines of a minimum 
width of 14 feet to allow of two carts crossing each other. It would 
be better to have a cleared line of 30 feet where fires are dreaded. 
Clear felling is the only method suitable for Casuarina, with re- 
planting either with Casuarina or some other trees. Casuarina cop- 
pices badly but if cut at 2 to 3 feet above ground it usually gives good 
shoots ; while a few of the trees may be found to have layered 
naturally by their lower branches. At best these shoots and layers 
should not be counted on. Self-sown seedlings even in this country 
bps 
