o-2i Natural Histor)/ (if the Cnco-'nid Trefl 



being put into the earth. It is sufficient to heap up a cer- 

 tain quantity of them, and to moisten them, that the husk 

 may not become dry. It is in this manner they are pre- 

 pared when oil is to be extracted from them by pressure. 



When transplanted, all the pits are dug to'the„dcpth of 

 from twcnt)' to twenty-two inches, and of an equal breadth j 

 the earth is then suffered to dry, and a stratum of salt, five 

 or six inches in thickness, is put into the bottom of each 

 pit, and on this is placed tlve young pLint. Great care 

 nuist be t;tken, when advanced in age, to transplant it with 

 all its roots and the earth they retain; but when trans- 

 planted at a favourable period, that is to say, at the end of 

 a year or fifteen months, it will be sufficient to dig up the 

 earth with a hoe around the young plant, to disengage the 

 roots, with the ligneous covering in which they are inclosed. 

 It must be placed vertically, that it mav not incline as it 

 grows, which, witliout this precaution, would infallibly be 

 the case ; and it woukl thereby lose that majestic appear- 

 ance which it has when it grows straio-ht. 



The pits, which are made in straight lines, arc filled up 

 with earth, which is jiressid down, as put into the pits, to 

 secure the plant t!ie better, and to retain it in its vertical 

 position : when this lal)our is finished, the plants are wa.- 

 tered after sun-set, and they are covered for about twelve 

 days, to preserve thejii from the scorching heat of the solar 

 rays : the irrigations are continued as often as possible, 

 according to the dryness of the atmosphere. An adage of 

 the Hindoo agriculturists, respecting the cultivation of this 

 valuable and useful palm, savs : — " Water me continually 

 during my yoiitli, and I will quench thy thirst abundantly 

 during the whole course of my life." 



Besides this care, which "cannot be neglected till its 

 eighth or its tenth year, when this vegetable begins to re- 

 turn with interest the pains and expense bestowed upon it, 

 there is another no less necessary, which must be observe(I 

 during its whole existence : it isj to cause it to he examined 

 now and then by the ckana or cultivator. I shall here de- 

 scribe this practice, so necessary to this palm, the only one 

 of the family which requires similar attention. 



It is well known that most of the palms liave a very de- 

 licate part, formed by the leaves not yet developed ;' this 

 pith or henrt, to make use of the expression of the Hindoos, 

 which the Europeans call the caibage of the palm, and 

 which is exceedingly savoury and sweet, ^'particularly that 

 of the coco-nut, and that even of tlic date tree, and agree- 

 able to eat, attracts a large beetle, armed with two strong 



tcrebraj : 



