How Japs Cultivated The

Paw-Paw

Letter to the Editor WITH reference to your article about paw-paws and papain, in your June issue, I should like to say that any variety of paw-paw tree will grow beyond the convenient height, if left too long.

The Japs made extensive gardens in the Gazelle Peninsula, out of Rabaul and the following is a proved procedure, which they employed to keep the trees low. The paw-paws are grown in rows, and the strongest plants are selected.

Care should be taken to select seed from the best fruits only, and from such trees as have a tendency to grow branches.

The trees then are allowed to grow until the fruits are too high to be reached'.

During this period any sturdy branch, with fruits on, is prepared for replanting, in the following way: The base of the branch is scraped all around with a knife —a band about 4 ins. wide until it bleeds.

Then soil, which in dry weather has to be kept moist, is packed all around, and secured with sacking. After two weeks, roots have formed, and the branch is cut off near the tree. It is remarkable that the fruits do not fall off. The branch is then carefully planted, where a tree has been cut out, and in this way there is no delay in the crop.

This is also an excellent way to have conveniently high paw-paws in the home garden. The suckers can be prepared anywhere, and there is no waiting for the fruit.

I am, etc.,

R. Hermann.

Kavieng, TNG.

The ship “Orna,” sailing from Suva on August 18 for Calcutta, took 382 Indian passengers. In accordance with the terms of the old Immigration Ordinances, the Government of Fiji paid the fares of 122 persons.