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THE AGKICDLTURAL NEWS. 



July 19, 1913. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



THE PHILIPPINE COCO-NUT INDUSTRY. 



Coco-nuts have been planted in the Philippines for 

 a large number of years, but it was not until about 1890 

 that the fruit was produced on a large scale for the produc- 

 tion of oil and copra. The older groves planted many years 

 ago are described in a recent bulletin (No 2.5 of the Depart- 

 ment of Public Instruction Bureau of Agriculture of the 

 Philippine Islands) as being extremely badly arranged In 

 some of these it is stated that the denseness of the trees is 

 very e.xcessive, some 2.50 to 500 trees per hectare are to be 

 found, instead of 100 or 150, which is a normal number. 

 Recently, however, this error has been realized and, gener- 

 ally speaking, the young groves are now very much better 

 laid out and more properly managed. 



Most of the Philippine copra is at present partially 

 dried over a tapahan or kiln. A considerable quantity, how- 

 ever, is sun dried, it having been found easier to produce 

 a higher priced article, and one which has the advantage of 

 containing no creosote as does the smoky product of the 

 kiln. Artificial products from patent driers are coming 

 into use, and it is believed the general adoption of this 

 method will greatly improve the status of the Philippine 

 copra market. At present the copra from this territory 

 ranks very low with the quality of the same article from 

 other countries. The necessity for improved methods of 

 preparation is rendered evident when the circumstance is 

 considered that the Philippines produce about one fourth of 

 the world's copra supply. The industry is increasing rapidly, 

 the copra exports for 1912 being 46 per cent, greater than 

 in 1911 (fiscal year). 



At present the Philippine coco-nut plantations are 

 comparatively free from insect pests and fungus diseases; 

 the rhinoceros beetle is more or less common throughout the 

 Archipelago, and in most locations, adjacent to wooded 

 areas, wild pigs and deer are usually found in such numbers 

 that young groves, unless fenced, are liable to be severely 

 damaged. 



Id conclusion, it is pointed out in the bulletin that the 

 prospect for high prices for copra, coco nut oil, and fresh 

 nuts in the Philippines is good. The returns, with careful 

 management, .should at the end of thi; ninth year be enough 

 to pay for the bringing in of the plantation, and dividends 

 ranging from 10 to 7.5 per cent according to local conditions 

 and management may be expected from the tenth to the 

 100th year. 



NOTES ON TREES IN BLOSSOM AT 

 DOMINICA. 



The following observations forwarded by Mr. 

 Joseph Jones, Curator, Botanic Gardens, Dominica, 

 should be of very general interest. Several of the 

 beautiful dowering trees referred to might be more 

 widely grown in the West ludies. 



A specimen of the Moreton Bay Chestnut, Casfanosper- 

 muvi Atnti-ide growing in the Botanic Cardens, Dominica, 

 has recently flowered and fruited. The tree, which belongs 

 to the Natural Order Leguminosae, possesses handsome 

 foliage and produces pei-like (lowers of an orange colour. 

 The flowering and fruiting of this tree for the first time in 

 Dominica is a matter of botanical interest only. The fruit 

 despite its name, is of little value. It is stated in the 

 'Treasury of Botany' that although the fruit has been extolled 

 and placed upon an equality with our chestnuts, they are in 

 reality not much superior lo acorns, and have an astringent 

 taste: they are improved by roasting and no doubt proved 

 acceptable to the travellers who first visited !Moreton Bay. 



Another papilionaceous tree in the Dominica Gardens 

 which has made a brilliant display of flowers lasting over 

 a period of several weeks, is the Dhak tree of India, Jiueta 

 fi-ondom. The Treasury of Botany states: 'when in full 

 flower the Dhak tree is a gorgeous sight, the masses of 

 flowers resembling sheets of flame, their orange red petals 

 contrasting brilliantly against the jet black velvety calyx.' 



This tree, which yields Bengal Kino, is of considerable 

 economic importance to the natives of India. 



During the dry season, excellent displays were made by 

 the fine flowering trees, Cassia grandis and Cassia nodosa. 

 Both these trees might be widely grown in the West Indies 

 on account of the beauty of their flowers and the considerable 

 period — six to seven weeks— during which they remain in 

 blossom. Under good conditions the trees commence to 

 flower when about three or four years old. 



The study of nuts with special reference to their micro- 

 scopic identification is described in Bulletin Xo, lljii of ttte 

 Bureau of Chemistry, I'nited States Department of Agri- 

 culture. Most of the investigation concerned fruit which 

 grows in temperate latitudes, though the almond and the 

 cashew nut of the Tropics are dealt with at some length. 

 It is noted in regard to the latter, that the starch grains are 

 mostly 5 lo i 2 mii;rons in length, and strongly resemble 

 a leguminous starch or that of the acorn. 



