22 
Many Crown Lands Niol, Morne Blanc, Terrain Bugand, have been thrown open to 
gmall holders who work on the moitie system contract in order to try and make good the 
shortage of food crops. Many of these small cultivators insist on burniug the land which they 
intend planting in ground crops and so strong is their idea that without burning the land they 
will obtain no crop that many of them have abandoned their lease when permission to set fire 
was refused owing to danger of general conflagrations. 
There is no doubt that by burning a partial sterilisation of the soil takes place and this 
means that noxious microorganisms which prevent the growth of food fixing bateria are kept 
under control. By burning a portion of the potash and other elements of fertilization of the 
soil together with the mineral matters found in the dead leaves and roots of the weeds and 
grasses also assume a more available form which makes the plants, set out afterwards, grow 
quicker. But there is no doubt that most of this readily available plant food is lost by the 
action of rain because it is in a soluble state and that it is better to use it gradually without 
burning since it remains in the soil. The theory that burning destroys insect pests can also 
be held with some force but when an acre of land is burnt in the middle of square miles left 
linburnt the insects which are being combated very quickly return to the burnt area and in 
greater numbers since by destroying by fire the insects, their natural parasites are also 
destroyed at the same time. But the small holder wants to make use of the lani which does 
sot belong to him for a short time and to shift to pastures new when the plant food he has 
rendered available is exhausted. There is no question that this policy cannot be adopted on 
land owned by the Government whose policy is to maintain the food plants in the soil. The 
interest of the Government and that of the small holder is conflicting and for this reason the 
©rown lands will not be opened to cultivation except on a very small scale. Advantage is 
taken of the opening which is being made this year by planting timber and fruit trees in the 
opened areas as an attempt towards cheap reafforestation. 
Among the plants that seem to grow well in cue worn out soils of the crown lands 
(which are all estates abondoned by their former owners) Gum Copal, (Tecoma leucoxylon) and 
Chrysobolanus icaco are worth mentioning. This latter bushy plant covers the ground in the 
most sterile places and within two years bears a crop of fruit which unfortunately is at pre- 
gent relished by the labourers, old and young, who even eat the stones inside as a nut. This 
plant will eventually be self-sown all over the Colony to the great benefit of the numerous 
worn out soils which are thrown out of cultivation. It will serve as an adjunct to the cin¬ 
namon trees which are at present exploited for their bark and leaves and without which the 
mountain slopes of Mahe would exhibit their desolate aspect from a long distance. 
P. R. DUPONT, 
Curator, Botanio Station* 
