Abstract
A. L. GRIFFITH, provincial sylviculturist, Madras has recently discussed an investigation into different weeding methods in the formation of teak plantations in areas with a west coast climate (Indian For. Rec., Sylviculture, 4, No. 2; Govt. of India Press, New Delhi, 1939). The investigation was carried out on a number of small-scale experiments and four large-scale ones. Five methods of weeding were tried. At the time, the principal method of weeding the young teak was by the expensive way of forking. The experiments carried on since 1932 have demonstrated that the method termed scraping is cheaper and as efficient on light forest soils; and that other methods, such as the cheap weeding by weed cutting alone, are not worth while. Weed cutting by hand is by no means cheap in England. By the scraping method it is said that plantation costs are being reduced by Rs. 10 per acre and the quality is as good as formerly. The scraping is done in 4 ft. strips (2 ft. on each side of the line of plants). Weed growth was not cut before. The scraping is effected with an ordinary mammoty (like a pointed spade with a recurved handle), removing about ½ in. of soil and cutting the weed roots at that depth below the original soil-level. The weeds removed are piled on the 2 ft. unweeded strips between the lines without cutting the weed growth on them. Or the operation may be carried out over the complete area, the weeds being then presumably removed.
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Weeding Methods in Teak Plantations. Nature 146, 91 (1940). https://doi.org/10.1038/146091b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/146091b0