B8 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL- 



9th Year. 

 Cost and Application of Manure. — If it is desired to get the 

 trees into full bearing earlier than they would if left to nature, 

 recourse should be had to manure. This is a large subject and cannot 

 be dealt with in a few lines. To be brief; no provision is made for the 

 purchase of stock other than draught bulls or buffaloes. Once the 

 plantation is well established and the plants above the reach of cattle, 

 the advantages of having a herd are many. An inexpensive method 

 of manuring and good results are obtained by tethering two head of 

 cattle to each tree for 10 nights. At the end of this period spread out 

 the droppings over a circle 12 to 14 ft. diameter, sprinkle 6 lbs. bone 

 dust over it, and turn over to a depth of 9 inches. In my estimate 

 I have put down in 9th year a manure mixture to cost Rs. 130 a ton 

 on the estate — 8 lb. per tree. This to be applied to the backward trees 



Trenching. — Contour trenches, in sections 20 ft. x 5 ft. M 15 ft., 

 are necessary where the ground is undulating — cut at right-angle 

 to the slopes and embracing them. I have made no provision for 

 trenches, but there may be a saving on roads, culverts or other items 

 to meet the cost, as well as that of propping bunches. 



Receipts. — My estimate of crops is only under most favourable 

 conditions. In many reputed districts for coconuts, it is nearer 15 

 years before appreciable returns can be expected. In the 20th year 

 there should be no difficulty in harvesting 800,000 nuts and over, and, 

 with liberal cultivation and manuring, a million obtained evantually. 



[The question of growing catch crops, such as manioc, &c., during 

 the first year or two, is one about which there is much difference of 

 opinion. From one point of view it is not economic to allow the land 

 lying between the rows of a newly planted estate to lie idle, and use 

 should be made of it until the palms require the full feeding area — or 

 at least as long as the catch crops will grow and yield satisfactorily 

 without interference from the coconut roots below and fronds above. 

 From the other point of view this is considered an objectionable prac- 

 tice as robbing the soil of fertility which should go to nourish the 

 palms. Of course, if catch-cropping is practised any loss of fertility in 

 consequence must be made good by manure. Mr, A. E. ,Rajapakse 

 (whose estimate follows) thinks it possible to secure a nett return of 

 Rs. 1,500 from the 200 acres by growing catch crops in the first year, 

 after which he would discontinue growing them.] 



