Polynesian., 1861-05-25
Ghe polpnesian,
lContinuedl
From 50 Coffee Planting in CeyIOn, Past and
Present."


We now arrive at the crowning operation Of ALL
PLANTING. Even this is variously conducted
There are certain rules not to be neglected in or
der to perform it successfully, and most important
it is that it should be we'll done. Economy should
be studied in every part of the work, and to plant
to the best advantage nothing is more conducive
than having the traces of the roads and paths
through the clearings ready opened if possible so
as to be available for bringing the plants from the
nurseries. Plants and stumps are both used in
forming plantations the first seedlings reared
In nurseries until they about eight to ten inches
high or Just crowned, that is after the appearance
of their first lateral branches the second are the
stock and roots of an older tree. Under varying
circumstances there is much to be said In favor OF
EACH If the weather is dry and the season ad-
vanced, stumps may be planted with less risk, and
in less time but if plants are to be had and the
season favorable, it is generally considered they are
the best. In putting them into the ground, II
practicable, they should b. removed from the nur-
sery with balls of earth about their roots this is
even the most economical, being almost an as
surance against failure, and the tree thus planted
receives no check, but begins to grow directly. If,
on the other hand, the plants to be brought too
far to carry them with balls of EARTH extreme
should be taken to place them with tap root per-
pendiculsrly in the soil. Invariably, the effect of
a tap root not being placed perpendIcularly IN the
hole is, that the tree, when grown to two or three
feet in height, the upper shoot and branches take
a paler color to that of the healthy plant, which Is
of very dark green. The leaves also become small
and elongated, and occasionally somewhat mottled
with yellow tinge. Such plants will frequently
turn out g boil, ;" or empty in husk, and prema,
tureIy die away. This remark is not uncalled for,
as it requires extreme vigilance to prevent the Ia
borers carelessiy doubling up the tap as they place
the plant in the earth. The hole should be we'll
filled up and the earth trodden in round the plant,
which should never be buried below the crown of
the root.
NURSERIES of plants are variously made; much
contention has existed on the merits OF shade and
no shade. Shade is not required, and the plants
are best without it, yet it happens most nurseries
are in some respects subject to shade, as they have
to be formed frequently before any portion of the
land is opened, and should be protected by belt
of forest from the fire of the clearing The jungle
being cleared off and carried to the sides OF the
ground selected, the soil is dug with hoes and picks
about two spits deep, and the roots of the jungle
carefully taken up, as these would afterwards
break the rootlets of the plants when taken up Tor
transpantng. The ground being laid out IN beds
is sometimes sown broadcast with coffee seed, which
only requires to be most lightly covered with
little sfted mould the seeds are pressed In, In
rows with the finger. Sometimes small seedlings
with two leaves and the seed leaves, are brought
| from another nursery, OF IrOm DeuedIh IHS COAVo
bushes of a plantation or native garden, and lined
out into beds about six inches apart. These make
by far the best and hardest plants for planting out
| into the fields.
We must not omit to notice the necessity for
carefully replacing, with as little delay possible,
all failures in the planting. The longer this is de-
layed the more difficult does it become to do WE'LL
and when neglected, besides making the fields ap-
pear irregular and unsightly, the gaps left become
weed beds and so much of the bearing space of the
acre being lost, the crop is affected in proportion
The Importance of the foregoing operations being
performed properly and in their season is so great,
| that though it has been very common to determine
to finish certain quantity of work In given
time, it would be well if such determination were
made more subservient to contingencies, and on no
account more land opened than could be carefully
lined, holed and planted with the best plants with
in the season. We are Of opinion that this prac-
tice would yield the higher ratio of profit and serve
| to economise all future proceedings.
| When stumps are planted, number OF buds or
suckers make their appearance on the root. One
of these only should be left, and the others careful
ly rubbed off with the finger, as often as the weed
inc party goes over the field.
| The sprout from the bud which is left grows up
and becomes the stem of tree, and throws out its
lateras somewhat higher than the trees grown from
a nursery plant. The stump generally produces
it's first crop a little out of season; for planting up
failures, stumps give the least trouble.
ROADS AND PAThs.-If these have been left hlth-
erto uniformed, no time should be lost IN tracing
them and cutting them out, as they assist more
than any other auxiliary to ecOnomise the cost OF
every part of the work to be undertaken on an es-
tate. No rules can be given for roads applicable
to all estates which differ in their features and lay
Of land; vet there certain objects which may be
noticed, which should always be kept in view.
In the first place. selection of the spot for
erecting the buildings necessary for the prePara-
ton of the crop, should be made, all main roads or
paths having to be made with reference to TINS spot
as a common center, and this point should likewise
be connected by the road which is to form the out
let of the estate The roads, therefore leaving the
stores are to make every part of the plantation ae-
cessible for the labors Of cropping or cultlyatlng
and with view to carriage of manure, which plant
ers recognize as duty which they Will have SOON
er or later to perform. A main road on N easy
incline, and wide enough to admit the passage OF
narrow wheeled cart should pass through the prln-
cpal features of the land joined and assisted where
needed, by minor paths. Next to lining and care
full planting nothing enhances the good appearance
of a plantatjon SO much as the workmanllke lorna
tion of the roads and buildings. 1t is therefore
desirable by the use of Theodolite to trace the
roads accurately before cutting them out Former
ly it was frequently the practice to take the road
by the eye from point to point, eyading the natu-
raj difficulties of rocks or large roots by taking the
breakneck path above or below them. In the alb
sence of a proper instrument, eontrivance called
a poats NAV be used with success. Roads on par
tiaI clearings should always have reference to the
land which is afterwards to be elled and connected
with the same set of works. Road making on
coffee plantations generally consists in evelng out
a ige of earth from the hill side, the mattoek
and mammotie (road hoe) are the chief tools EN-
Moved. but as timber has to be cut through and
removed, both above and under ground, the axe and
cross cut saw have much to do. Rocks have fre-
ouently to be dug out sometimes blasted and some
times built round. Blasting being very unsafe
goal may described 10 foot rod attached TO one
pernanent leg leg graduated to inches moving IN
oke at extremity. The 10 foot rod being MAINTAIN
position by plumb line az right angles aoove