Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1851-11-01

ne"i, ahu Inc ease win which u can be kept
clean Of weeds
A sufficient quantity of land being line,l, la
borer follows with a spade, and digs hole at
each peg about foot deep and sixteen or eish-
teen inches in diameter the plants are then
brought from the nearest nursery, care being
taken that quantity of earth is left about the
roots Of each, and placed in each hole; it is
then held in a perpendicular position with one
hand while the earth is filed in with the other,
the transplantation being completed by the earth
being firmly trodden in round the plant. A skill
ful workman can, in this manner, when the nur-
series are not very distant, transplant four or
five hundred young trees in one day.
Some persons put two or three plants in one
hole. and after some time pull up or cut away
the weaker ones, and leave that which appears
10 be strongest and most healthy, hut the propri-
ETY. of this plan, think is very questionable, as
the plants must to a greater or less extent inter
fere with each other and the nourishlnent sup
piled by the earth in so small compass must he
divided instead Of being appropriated solely to
the support of one plant.
Another excellent plan to form plantation,
or to increase the number Of trees on u planta-
tion already formc'I, is from description Of
plant, which, for want Of proper name, shall
call a sucker these suckers generally found
about plantations that have been in operation for
some years, and consist Of old Or neglected nur-
series in which the plants have become stnlky,
and have attained the height of two three feet,
and in some cases when the seeds have been car
red by rats birds or from other causes have
taken root aud grown to The above height in diff
fereni parts of the plantation.
When these suckers are used, they are taken
up, cut to a uniform length Of about eighteen
inches. all the side roots trimmed off, and the
taI-root cut to point they are then inserted,
each in its proper place, as indicated by the pegs,
about twelve inches in the ground, about six
inches Of the stem being left exposed above the
surface. Stout healthy suckers should be selec-
ted rather than those which are weak and spind-
ly looking. Trees grown in this manner are not,
during the earliest stages Of their growth, so sub
ject The attack of insects those used by the
ordinary method of seed, and being buried to
considerable depth the roots Of the plants at once
take firm hol.l Of the ground. When these
suckers can he obtained in abundance, the en-
! ployment of them is in many respects preferable
to that Of plants raised from seed.
| The young trees Leng now planted out, the
only they require is to keep the roots clear
olive Tobacco, pinc-apples, maize, bananas,
potatoes &c., may be gro between the rows
for the next two years with advantage to the cof
fee tree, as the continual stirring aud Ioosening
of the earth that their cultivation requires enn-
ble its roofs penetrate the soil on every side,
and thus to seek that nourishment which il would
he unable to do did the earth remain hard and
unbroken : tor my own part prefer the cultiva-
ton Of potatoes between the rows Of young cof.
fee to that of any other plant, as is neces-
sary that the earth should be turned up to a
greater depth for them than for the other plants
I have named, and there is no fear that the trees
will be injured by them in any stage Of their
growth; il bananas are planted between the rows
they are apt during high winds to be blown down
aud to fall upon and injure the trees. have tried
most of the plants have named between young
coffee trees, and have found that those, from be-
tween which two or three crops Of potatoes had
been taken off in the course of year md helf,
were larger healthier, and better in every respect
than those which were merely kept clean ofweetls,
without any other kind Of cultivation going nj
the same time, or than trees between which the
cultivation Of other plants was carried on. No
climbing plants Of any description should I've
grown amongst coffee trees they would retard
their growth and in all probability do much dam
are l,y breaking the br nnches Of the trees Sc.
| - - c,psfn N IL
teruarely n row of coffee trees aud row of hama
mas. each row being six feet apart, and the trees
in the rows also six feet distant from each other
the obiec, of this method is to supply the labor
ers with food, hut consider the plan Of preser-
wing the uniform distance of eight feet between
the trees far superior.
The only method have ever heard of being
empIoyed to keep weeds down in a coffee plan
tation ia with the common hoe, and praclised
it myself for some years but the operation is ex-
peusive and slow l have lately made use Of a
single horse plough for this purpose with perfect
). success and consler il an invaluable implement
/ in the cultivation of the coffee iree. When the
plantation is well laid out, aud the trees are re-
ruIarIy planted 50 that they appear to form rows
in whatever direction they nre viewed !from.
1 the plough can be employed to the greatest adj
/ vantage. Its first run down the rowe, commen-
cling as near TO the trSe as psudence will admit
of. turning the earth towards the ires i 10
shen run hack in the same avenue, but turning
,he earth over in the direction Of, and close to
the next row Of frees this process Is repeated
until tho whole surface is turtesl over and =
,a =. S.,.,rh Il left in fha middle Of