ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

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S U M A T R A * -
the fhort cuttings; and that they frequently grow crooked. The circumftances
which render the chinkareen particularly proper for this purpofe,
are, it's eafinefs and qviicknefs of growth; and the little thorns or
fpines with which it is armed, enabling the vine more firmly to adhere
to it. Some, however,- prefer the bitter chinkareen, (with a browniih
red flower), though fmooth, to the prickly (bearing a white), becaufe
the elephant, which often proves deftructive to the gardens, avoids the
former, on account of its difagreeable tafte, though it is not deterred by
the fpines, from devouring the other fpecies. Thefe, however, are
more generally in ufe.
When the chinkareen has been fome months planted, the mod promifing,
perpendicular fhoot, is to be referved for growth, and the reft to
be lopped off; and when it has attained to the height of two, or at
moft, two fathoms and a half, it is to be headed or topped ; no further
height being required.
It has been often doubted, whether the growth and produce of the
pepper vine, is not confiderably injured by the chinkareen, which muft
rob it of it's proper nourifhment, by exhaufting the earth. On this
principle, the vine, in other of the eaftern iflands, and particularly at
Borneo Proper, is fupported by poles, that do not vegetate, as are hops in
England. Yet it is by no means clear to me, that the Sumatran method
is fo difadvantageous as it may feem. By reafon of the pepper vine
lafling many years, whilft the poles, expofed to the fun and rain, and
loaded with a confiderable weight, cannot be fuppofed to laft above
two feafonsj there muft be a frequent lhifting; which, notwithftanding
the utmoft care, muft tear the plants, and often deftroy them. Befides,
it may perhaps be the cafe, that the flielter from the violent rays of the
fun, afforded by the branches of the chinkareen, to the plants; and
which, during the dry monfoon, is of the utmoft coniequence; may
go near to counterbalance the injury occafioued by their roots: not to infift
on the opinion of a celebrated writer; that trees, ading as fyphons,
derive from the air, and tranfmit to the earth, as much of the principle
of