No. 238/Oft 
Botanic 
STRAITS S E T T L E M E N T S. 
Ilth Tune 1906* \ 
7)ear Sir, 
Mr* Ridley will he away Tor perhaps the 
next three weeks and X briefly reply to your letter 
which X will also keep in view for Mr*Ridley's return* 
Xf only ordinary clay soil is used for burning for 
the pepper gardens no good is likely to be effected,but 
■ ( X 
X have always seen (and used) and understood pepper 
growers collected decayed leaves and top black soil 
from the jungle (the gradual accumulation) which was 
burnt and then applied* If due care is taken in what is 
collected this supplies a good percentage of lime and 
nitrogenous matter, and together with the humus a rich 
compost, easily assimilated,and of undoubted advantage 
4 ' * \ ' . f d 
to pepper vines* 
Yours truly 
/ /■ 
