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from below and after some days or weeks when the burning has 
ceased, it is broken up and after the unburnt pieces of wood and 
charcoal are removed — the gardener considers that charcoal in the 
proximity of pepper roots fosters fungoid disease — the whole is 
mixed up together. Thus is produced burnt earth which varies 
much in quality according to (l) the kind of soil used to produce 
it, and (2) the nature of the combustions. The soil preferred for this 
purpose is a mixture of jungle soil rich in humus, and ordinary yellow 
clay of the garden : if jungle soil only be used, it often acts as a 
complete damper. During the burning, it is most important that the 
combustion shall be slow and that the earth as a wdiole shall not be 
overheated as baked earth is useless. If the top or sides fall in during 
the burning the aperture must be filled up lest the burning be accel- 
erated. 
Thus prepared it is obvious that the soil which is in the imme- 
diate neighbourhood of the burning 1 ogs becomes quite overburnt, and 
the most valuable part of the heap is the black middle stratum. 
Wherein lies the indisputable virtue of burnt earth is somewhat 
doubtful, but one may expect it to possess several points of superiority 
over unburnt earth viz. 
(1) in the absence of living organisms, fungi bacteria, etc. 
(2) in the presence of wood ashes. 
(3) in the presence of the products of the incomplete 
combustion of the wood. 
(4) in the presence of the products of partial decomposi- 
tion of the organic matter contained in the jungle 
soil itself. 
(5) in the increased porosity of the product. So far as 
I know, no experiments have been undertaken to 
elucidate this problem. 
The manure proper of the pepper gardener is prawn refuse and 
this is excellent. It is rich in organic matter, in phosphates and 
in Calcium salts and moreover has a great advantage over ordinary 
chemical manures in that it is not too easily soluble and is not 
liable to be entirely dissolved by the first shower of tropical rain. 
Nevertheless, it is expensive and the supply is not unlimited. 
An account of pepper cultivation would not be complete without 
some mention of diseases resulting from insect ravages and other 
causes. Very formidable pests are certain small plant bugs which 
attack the flowers and the setting fruit. When the flower spikes 
appear, there may be seen flying about the vines a number of small 
black insects each armed with a long spine on the back and one on 
either shoulder ; these settle on the fkwvers and feed thereon. The 
insects belongs to the Membracidae and is a species of Centrotus. 
Another plant bug, but one much more sluggish is a small black 
flattened creature which crawls along the spike destroying the 
flowers. It is one of the Tingididae and is called Elasmognathus 
Hciuitti, Still another flow T er- eating creature belonging to the same 
order is a small flattened insect, green in colour, its sides fringed with 
tiny spines. This is an immature form whose adult I have not seen : it 
may be a Centrocnemis. This pest is very sluggish, but it is a serious one. 
