COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL, 8l 



vested in manure yields 25 to 50 per cent. I fancy most persons would 

 desire to continue it; various nitrogen-collecting plants, through the 

 praiseworthy efforts of the Royal Botanical Gardens' staff, are now 

 being grown experimentally, and no doubt we shall soon have reliable 

 information as to cost and results. It is necessary to remind owners 

 that manuring does not only increase crops, but prolongs the life of 

 the trees for probably from '20 to 30 years ! 



Enemies o* the Coconut Plant : White Ants.— These are not veiy 

 destructive except on old lands where no jungle has grown for many 

 years; where they have decaying timber and roots to feed upon they 

 rarely do much harm to plants. Many remedies have been proposed, 

 hut I have found the following effective: — Place hair a quart of salt 

 under the nut of the plant and keep it in its place by a stake driven 

 into the ground, tying the stem of the plant to the stake; no earth 

 should come in contact with the nut, and after the plant is thoroughly 

 rooted earth may be gradually filled in; mild showery weather should 

 bo chosen for this. A very old and experienced hand recommends 

 dipping each nut into a thick strong mixture of salt and cow dung; a 

 pinch of corrosive sublimate added would be an improvement. 



Wild Pigs. — Where these are numerous they are very destructive 

 and capable of destroying almost every plant in a clearing within a week 

 of planting out. The only remedy in such a case is six months before 

 putting out the palms, to plant up the clearing with manihots and sweet 

 potatoes; the pigs being fond of these will confine their attention mainly 

 to them, and do the minimum of harm to the coconut plants. Where 

 not so numerous a reward of Rs. 5 and the carcase will send a good many 

 Shikaries on their tracks. 



Porcupines. — These are very wary and destructive animals. The 

 following plan, for their destruction, was tried with marked success on 

 an estate near Ambalangoda. Take, a few coconuts that have germi- 

 nated sufficiently to largely develop the fuzz-ball inside the nut; split 

 the nuts with a clean stroke of a sharp axe, and into the fuzz-ball mix 

 about two tea-:;poonfuis of "rough on rats"; close the halves together 

 again and tie loosely with a piece of jungle creeper Leave these in 

 tho tracks of the animals; so long as there is the least taint of the 

 human hand they will not be touched, but after the animals will feed 

 on the nuts and die. Seventeen were killed in this way within a fort- 

 night. This plan would also suit for the bandicoot rat. 



Cattle — are most harmful to young plants, for if badly eaten down by 

 them the plants must be replaced with others, as tliey will never thrive 

 or grow into good trees. The only protection against cattle is a good 

 fence, and to allow noae into the estate till the plants are five years old. 



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