3-J'J Xulural Hi dor]/ of th' Coco-nut Tree. 



luoiis needles of which it was composed j and at the time 

 t!ie place sin-iendercd (he wound was pericctlv healed. 



I mention these lact:> that advantage may he taken of 

 them, should urgent ciremnstances render temporary for- 

 tilications neee^^arv in a eoimtry where coco-nut trees 

 can be readily obtained. I was sensible of the utility of 

 it during the siege of Pondieherry, ia 1/78, at which time 

 I caused the merlons of the ramparts to be covered with it. 

 Jt is not till the end of- the fifth month that the first 

 leaves of the eoco-nut tree make their full appearance. 

 Their ahr are still adherent, and all united as if cemented 

 together. The case is the same with all those which shoot 

 out till the twelfth or thirteenth month; they all issue from 

 the centre, that is, from the head or crown of the foliage, 

 and are supported by a kind of tissue cxecedinglv strong. 



If all seasons arc propitious to the planting of this tree, 

 they are all eiiually suited to it when transplanted to tlie 

 place destined for it. Every kind of soil, even the most 

 sand\', agrees with it, pro\'ided it is not suflercd to want 

 water; it even thrives better in light than in strong soil. 

 'V\\Q cultivation of this vecetable proves, in a decisive man- 

 ner, the justness of the agricultural principles of the Hin- 

 doos, that water alone coiuains all the nutritive parts of 

 plants. In this respect mv observations induce me to 

 entertain the same opinion ; it is founded on a number of 

 trials made during a series of years, on more than fifty 

 species of gramineous plants, shnd)S, and trees, which I 

 i.idtivated in water only, keepins; them in vessels propor- 

 tioned to their strength. These facts are incontestable, and 

 can be proved by manv persons, both French and English, 

 who were witnesses of them, and came to see them in my 

 garden at Poudicherrv, between the years 1771 and 1784.. 

 'i'he eoco-nut tree is generally transplanted from the age 

 of eight to lifteen mouths. It may without any inconve- 

 nience be removed at the age of two or three years ; but in 

 tliis ease it requires more caution, to prevent the roots front 

 being broken, as thcv would not grow again ; an accident 

 which would infalliblv canse the plant to die. 



It succeeds eipially when planted in groves, in orchards, 

 or when destined to form avenues, or to ornament walks in 

 a garden ; it produces a beneficent shade ; and its roots, 

 which do not extend far, can hurt no vegetable, thoushi 

 even st) near as almost to touch it ; nor does ii injure walls, 

 near which it niav be planted. All these reasons induce the 

 natives of India' to place it around their habitations, and 

 ahviivfe as near them as possible. 



Its 



