Some Experiments on Staking Derris

Abstract

Derris eliptica is a creeper which sends Out runners many feet in length: some plants in Amani have grown up supports to a height of over 30 feet, As usually cultivated in Malaya and other countries they have been left to creep along the around. Preliminary trials in Amani indicated that staked plants gave a higher yield of root than unstacked ones, a result one might expect on theoretical grounds because Slaked plants have a greater area of leaf exposed \0 (he light and therefore would presumably show greater growth because of increased photosynthesis.