114 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



roots are severed, and, while new roots will be produced near the cut, 

 yet the main root growth will not be encouraged and the tree will have 

 to depend largf ly on these new roots for the absorption of its food. This 

 means it will feed from a restricted area and be moie liable to suffer 

 from drought than a tree which lias a vigorous root system extending 

 to a great distance. It is. indeed, a slovenly method which is only 

 upheld by fcho'-e who are too indolent tc do more than the minimum of 

 work on their estate. Manure should be applied towards the end of the 

 rainy season, ivefore the rains have entirely ceased, and if broad-casted, 

 this should be done when there is no wind. The early morning is gene- 

 rally a suitable time. Trees should be manured every year, and the 

 same remarks as ha; r e been applied to the subject of cattle manure 

 apply also to general manuring. It is much better to manure 

 a few trees w 1 than the whole estate badly. If money is scarce and the 

 whole estate cannot be manured with its proper dose do not spread the 

 manure over all the trees in small quantities. Apply the proper dose to 

 part of the estate even if it be only to one acre to begin with. Persevere 

 with this one acre until the profit from the extra crop enables more 

 manure to be bought ant a larger area to be treated. In this way you 

 enhance the value of your property year by year, wheieas by haphazard 

 and inadequate doses applied to all the trees and at irregular intervals, 

 the same money might be spent and only a small increase in crop 

 obtained. 



Soil Analysis as a Guide to Manuring. 

 A good deal of useful information can often be obtained by soil 

 analysis. Son.t soils are less suited to bone meal than to basic slag, 

 for instance; others respond better to sulphate of ammonia than to 

 nitrate of soda or potash; while others, again, Eaving a big reserve store 

 of potash, ma/ give their best returns after applications of lime or of 

 kainit. Point,, such as these are important and can only be settled by 

 chemical examination, and it is advisable, before starting manuring, to 

 submit a sampie of the soil for analysis. 



Select portions of the estate at different spots wh-:re the soil is uni- 

 form in appea i ance and represents a fairly large area. At each point 

 dig a hole 18 inches deep and having one vertical face. From this face, 

 cut a slice of soil from top to bottom and place it in a box or sack. 

 Mix all the slices together thoroughly and send a portion of about 10 lbs. 

 for anlysis. 



The Uses of Cultivation, 

 It has been pointed out that one of the main objects of cultivation 

 is the preservation of soil moisture and it is also evident that manuring 

 can only be properly done and the manure brought into contact with 



