1 Nov., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 857 
naturally wants support, and this is afforded either by a growing tree or by 
stout posts about 12 feet high and 8 inches in diameter. If live supports are 
used, they should consist of trees which have a bark to which the fibrous roots 
of the vine can attach themselves. The trees principally used are the jack 
fruit and some species of coral trees, especially the Erythrina coral- 
lodendron. 
Murnop or Cunrrvarron. 
After clearing, the ground is marked out into squares by lines inter- 
secting each other at every 6 feet, some prefer 7 feet. At the points of 
intersection, cuttings of the coral tree are planted (coral trees, by the way, 
are plentiful in our Queensland scrubs). As soon as these have rooted and 
have produced trees strong enough to act as supports, two or three cuttings of 
the vine from 18 inches to 2 feet long are planted near them. The growth of 
the tree will keep pace with the growth of the vine. The trees must not be 
allowed to grow higher than from 12 to 15 feet, which will be in the second 
year, as the coral trees are very quick growers. Then they must be topped. 
The branches also are lopped every year, very little more~being left than the 
rough stem for the vine to cling to. The branches are lopped so as to give the 
stumps a fan form, and thus afford a better shade to the pepper plant. 
if left to itself the vine will attain a height of 20 feet or more, but for 
harvesting purposes it is restrained to about 12 feet. The cuttings should 
be planted as far from the support as possible, and be entirely buried with 
the exception of 4 or 5 inches resting against it. Between the second and. 
third year it begins to bloom. The following season the stem is uncoiled from 
its support, and is placed in a spiral form in a hole dug for the purpose close 
to its root, the top only being left above ground. Rooting afresh at every 
joint, it grows again with renewed vigour, and the ensuing season bears a 
full crop. By some, instead of the buried coil method called ‘“ letting down,” 
the vines are cut down nearly close to the ground, and are then allowed to. 
grow again for their first crop; but the former method, providing as it does so. 
many additional roots with which to extract food from the soil, is obviously best 
calculated to impart vigour to the plant. It is not regarded as a good practice 
to allow the first flowers to fruit, and to take their produce before this 
“letting down” process has been carried into effect. From the fourth to 
about the eighth year the vines continue to yield an annually improving crop, 
after which their productiveness gradually declines until at a period of about, 
four years later tlfe amount of produce is no longer remunerative. The best 
cultivators provide against this tendency of the plant by having succession 
plantations or gardens. When the plant begins bearing, all suckers are 
removed, one or two stems only being allowed tq grow; the strongest suckers 
are used to replace misses or weakly plants, and so give uniformity to the 
plantation, or are applied to the formation of new gardens. While the plants 
are young they are kept weeded, but the labour is reduced as the plants by 
sheltering the ground lessen the growth of weeds. Plantations vary in size 
from 500 to 3,000 vines; but, where the number is larger, dividing hedges are 
grown so as to create plots of 500 vines each. In dry weather the plants are 
industriously watered. Flowers, green bunches of fruit, and mature berries 
may be seen at one time on the same vine, and from the first appearance of 
flowers, about four months elapse before any of the fruit is sufficiently mature 
for gathering. Considerable judgment is required for determining this period. 
If left too long, the ripe berries fall, and if the bunches are gathered prematurely, 
the berries shrivel too much in drying, and are less marketable. Unripe 
berries after drying go to dusty fragments in handling. 
In full vigour, a pepper plant is very prolific, and each bunch containing 
from 20 to 30 berries, a single vine will often produce from 6 to 7 lb. of pepper, 
but the general average is very much less, probably not more than 3-lb. 
per vine over a whole plantation. The crop is an uncertain one, depending 
much on the seasons, and the fruit ripens irregularly over a greater part of the 
year, but a plantation in full bearing gives two crops in the year. 
