The genus Cinnamomum

Chinese Cassia 161
careful harrowing. Beds, 10 m long and 1–1.2 m wide are made. When seeds germinate,
the sprouted seeds are transplanted to beds at the spacing of 10 10 cm.
Alternatively sprouts can be transplanted in polybags filled with soil.
Covering frame: Cinnamon seedlings prefer shady places, so seedlings in the nursery
must be covered. The covering frames should be 1.5–2 m high for easy watering and
tending. About 80% shade is provided before transplanting.
Watering: The watering regime differs based on the humidity in each area. In Tra Mi,
in Vietnam, it is rainy with high humidity, so watering is necessary only on dry days.
In other areas watering should be adjusted based on rainfall.
Tending of seedlings in the first one to three months: Weeding needs to be done at least every
month. In case of pests/disease, spraying the appropriate insecticide (insecticides
Basudin or Wofatox 666: 1–2%, 4 l/m 2 ) or fungicide chemical to prevent soil borne
diseases (Bordeaux solution: 1–1.5%, 4 l/m 2 ) is essential. Spraying should be done
every 15 days, once or twice per month.
Fertilizers: The following are given – basal fertilization: Muck 30% phosphorum
2kg/m 2 . Additional fertilizers: potassium 0.1kg/m 2 ; nitrogenous or muck 0.3%
through irrigation water or spraying.
Tree training: Seedlings before transplantation need to be trained by stopping all aspects
of the cultivating regime, such as the application of additional fertilizers, spraying
chemicals, taking off the coverings, stopping weeding, etc.
Forest growing: Being a long-term crop, choosing land for the extensive growing of cinnamon
is very important. Cassia cinnamon seedlings prefer shady places, so a vegetation cover
is essential for the healthy development of plants in the initial stage. Such vegetation
cover is found in forests and in the fallow land under growing trees.
The vegetation cover in the forest must be cut down into stripes of 1 m wide, and
the treeless stripes are intercalated with tree bands parallel to each other. The remaining
trees in the forest must be exploited before growing cinnamon. The covering
canopy of the forest should be around 60%.
Digging holes: The hole dimension should be 40 40 40 cm with a row interval of 2 m
and a tree interval of 1.5 m. The holes should be dug at least 30 days prior to planting.
Planting: Seedlings must be fully trained before planting. A seedling is removed from
the nursery bed together with a ball of earth and planted in the pit. Care is needed to
prevent bud and root breaking. After planting in the pit, the piling up of soil at the
base is important to prevent the stagnation of water during heavy rains. The best time
for planting is October to November.
Tending a growing cassia forest
First year: Tend only once in September and October. The work required includes cutting
the vegetation cover, weeding, lightly turning over the soil at the base, piling up