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[Page 12]
when the plant has grown to the above height, they have then have no further care with it, than to water it, and to clear the bushes of the superficial branches for the form of a stander. None of the plantation were recently turned, which I understood that they perform it with a plough, and level it so even, that the whole plantation receives an equal share of water. where the land is unequal, they intersect the plantations with a narrow bank, and have additional wells, and channels cut from the head well, by which the water is guided to the intended division. The sandle tree is all the year round green and in continual vegetation, it grows to the height of 50 feet, the stem never exceeds two in Diameter, and 16 feet to the crown. The soil of all these plantations, or woods, consisted of an entire hard, and rough sand.
N.- 6. Sapindus, or the soapberry tree. The seeds of this tree as it is well known, has a soapy quality, which the silch weavers in Ahmedebad make use of in washing their silchs. I found whole woods of these trees in the Ahmedebad Purgunah, which I understand, they sow the seeds in the beginning of the cold season , which is the time when the seeds ripens. These trees were planted at the distance of 15 feet from each other, in a sandy soil, where no other grain would easily grow.
N. 7. a Species of a Morinda. This shrub is cultivated in the Mahratta country for it roots of which they extract a beautifull scarlet dye. The seeds ripens in the cold season, and it is sown in the beginning of the rains in swampy places, at the distance of 12 feet from each other. The planters suffer the shrubs to grow three season, then take them carefully out, plough the ground direcly and besow it with the same species, without further care or manure.
N. 8. The white Areca. This is a new species of that genus of Palms cultivated in the Dasgown district both for it fine nuts which they chew: and the Tody, or Juice, of which they tap daily; as the other districts do the Cocanut tree. As the plant requires a great moisture the inhabitants commonly chuse these places for it which are almost in constant inundation, and plant the out in the cold season about 20 feet from each other.
N. 9. The common Arecca from Bombay, which the inhabitants cultivate for the sake of it nut, they plant it about their houses without any regularity in the cold season: and also water it during the cold and hot periods of the year.
The best soil for this Palm I would recommend of a light yellow clay, and moist situations