THE COCONUT AND ITS RELATION TO THE PRODUC- 
TION OF COCONUT OIL. 
By Herpert 8. WALKER. 
(From the Chemical Laboratory, Bureau of Science.) 
THE SOIL. 
Coconut production from the standpoint of the quality and quantity 
of the oil yielded has hitherto not been investigated, and it was decided 
to enter into this subject as fully as possible. The first problem which 
presented itself was the influence of the soil in which the trees grow on 
the yield of nuts, copra, and oil. It had been noticed for a long time that 
coconut trees growing near the seashore at San Ramon produced much 
more fruit than those standing farther inland, and it had also been stated 
that the former trees bear a better quality of nuts than the latter. 
To determine how far these facts might be accounted for by a greater 
fertility of the soil near the sea, the following analyses were made of a 
number of soils in which coconut trees were growing, the samples being 
taken at the beach as well as farther inland, and two from Davao, where 
coconut trees flourish : 
Analyses of San Ramon soils. 
Y ) 
| | l 
Baraple, | Poker {Moisture. ienition. | 205 | K30. | | “ah ‘earth © ‘1 
foe —_—| — 7 | ca “| | poder ai 
| | 60 mesh, | | 
Ses ete 29.5; 2.65 5.83 0.08/ 0.86.18 | 0.012, 0.001 
i ae alt | 7 | 2.45 3.06 07 | 5 03 | 018.002 
| eRe hoe amen 23 1.99 1. 68 07 | 55 02 . 009 002 
= eS | 8 511 | 7.93 33 68| .18 |  .018 001 
6 Seen Sree 37.5 | 7.82 | 5.97 08 45 | 04 004. 001 
as 45 7.33 | 6.03 08 | 48 | 08 | 006 001 
PGi Se od 3.7 2.55 1.58 10, 88 T | Se, cere 
Aly ioe eaideaeert 21) 2.65 | lesngeawse | 2 eee neon 
| 30 mesh. | | 
PO ee isla | 38 2.52 1.35 ae 18 a es (cee 
| i ee | 26.9 2. 96 1.71 AU 62 004 |_..-------|------- 
2 ee ’ 37,2 2,32 2, 29 07 65 i et (eReRen Perce ee 
40 mesh. | ; | | 
eae 43.6| 7.6 1.79 08 | i | ee | 
| (| eee eo! 85.7) 6. 04 | 24 21 2S | Pee caer | 
