1 ( il )
2 65. This plantation is situated on the north bank of tho Seepna river, and
3 half way between Pili and Sembadloh. It occupies
4 the site of a village, which was deserted 12 years
5 ago after a sdvere outbreak of cholera, and little difficulty was consequently
6 eXperionced in clearing the ground of jungle. Altogether about 200 acres of land are
7 ‘avuiluble, but of these, only 120 have as yet been taken up.
8 a
9 Peepaleotta Plantation.
10 st op
11 The soil consists for the most part of the deep read loam common to the
12 Seepna Valley, and all good tcak-bearing localities in the Mailghat.
13 Operations wore commenced in February 1871, and by the 31st March, nur-
14 series were prepared comprising an area of about three-fourths of an acre.
15 Tho seed was sown in March, and artificially watered. Mr. Ballantyne calcu-
16 lates that he sowed about 370;000 seeds, and that of these about one-third germi-
17 nated. lu the months of March, April, and June, 145,000 pits were dug at distances
18 of six feet apart, cach pit being one foot wide, and 10 inches deep. Tho soil was left
19 heaped upon the sides of the pits, until the rains had fairly set in. Towards the erid
20 of July transplanting was commenced, and was continued till the 20th of August.
21 During the whole of the transplanfing season, the weather was most unfavor-
22 able, there being continual breaks of hot sunny days, which proved very injurious
23 to the newly transplanted seedlings. YVlanting ‘operations were only carried on,
24 when it wag actually raiaing, but often it would clear up so suddenly, that before
25 the plants could be taken from the nursery and conveyed to the plantation, they
26 were almost dead.
27 In consequence of the unfavorable nature of the weather, the precaution
28 was taken of putting three selected seeds into each pit, and it is hoped that these
29 will gorminate during the ensuing rains, and save the trouble of filling up blanks.
30 Mr. Ballantyne estimates the deaths in this plantation to bé about 7 per cent.
31 at the present date, nut much when it is remembered that the plants have received
32 no artificial watering from the day they were taken from the nursery.
33 66. This plantation situated on the south bank of the Seepna river, and
34 opposite to Peepalcotta, comprises an area of about
35 15 acres. The land was formerly under cultivation,
36 and required little clearing.
37 Saoli Plantation, No. 1.
38 In the month of September the ground was ploughed to a depth of 10 inches,
39 and sced sown in lines 6 feet apart, the distance of one seed from the other being
40 about 2 inches. Thore ought, therefore, to be no lack of seedlings when germina-
41 tion takes place, which is looked for in June or July next. All excess seedlings
42 will be utilized as transplants.
43 67. Here 15 acres adjoining the above have been prepared. The ground was
44 cleared of brishwood in January, and ploughed and
45 rolled in F@bruary. The sowing, which was hardly
46 completed by the end of March, was carried on in the same manner as in Saoli
47 Plantation No. 1.
48 Sauli Plantation, No. 2,
49 68. These plantations occupying an area of respectively 40 and 42 acres, are
50 situated im a deserted village about a mile to the
51 west of Pih, and are separated from one another
52 by the Seepna river.
53 Bujru Plantations.
54 At the close of the yoar, all work had been completed with the exception of
55 gowing.
56 69. The Lubo plantation was only commenced in March, by the end of which
57 the whole area, 65 acres, had been cleared of jungle,
58 Lubo Plantation. and made ready for ploughing,