e cases the destruction
is frequently to a large extent; great rocks are detached from the
summits of the hills, and sweep off whole lines of trees in their
descent.

Wherever landslips are frequent, they may be taken as an evidence of a
poor, clay subsoil. The rain soaks through the surface; and not being
able to percolate through the clay with sufficient rapidity, it lodges
between the two strata, loosening the upper surface, which slides from
the greasy clay; launched, as it were, by its own gravity into the
valley below.

This is the worst kind of soil for the coffee tree, whose long tap-root
is ever seeking nourishment from beneath. On this soil it is very
common to see a young plantation giving great promise; but as the trees
increase in growth the tap-root reaches the clay subsoil and the
plantation immediately falls off. The subsoil is of far more
importance to the coffee-tree than the upper surface; the latter may be
improved by manure, but if the former is bad there is no remedy.

The first thing to be considered being the soil, and the planter being
satisfied with its quality, there is another item of equal importance
to be taken into consideration when choosing a locality for a coffee
estate. This is an extent of grazing land sufficient for the support of
the cattle required for producing manure.

In a country with so large a proportion of forest as Ceylon, this is
not always practicable; in which case land should be cleared and grass
planted, as it is now proved that without manure an estate will never
pay the proprietor.

The locality being fixed upon, the clearing of the forest is commenced.
The felling is begun from the base of the hills, and the trees being
cut about half through, are started in sections of about an acre at one
fall. This is easily effected by felling some large tree from the top,
which, falling upon its half-divided neighbor, carries everything
before it like a pack of cards.

The number of acres required having been felled, the boughs and small
branches are all lopped, and, together with the cleared underwood, they
form a mass over the surface of the ground impervious to man or beast.
This mass, exposed to a powerful sun, soon becomes sufficiently dry for
burning, and, the time of a brisk breeze being selected, the torch is
applied.

The magnificent sight of so extensive a fire is succeeded by the
desolate appearance of blackened stumps and smouldering trunks of
trees: t