122 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



its way into the palm through the leaves, the crown, the cabbage, or 

 indeed any portion of the palm except the roots. 



The absorption of water through the roots of the palm is carried >n 

 most satisfactorily when the following conditions are f ulhlled : — (1) a 

 certain degree of warmth of the surrounding soil; (2) an adequate supply 

 of fresh air; ana (3) a suitable supply of water. 



In the coconut-growing districts of Ceylon it is seldom indeed that 

 the temperature of the soil ever falls below that point at which the 

 absorption of water is checked, though this may occur occasionally in 

 the case of baaly-drained or water-logged areas. Neither is the tem- 

 perature of the soil ever likely to rise too high. So far as concerns tho 

 soil temperature, therefore, Ceylon coconut planters are particularly 

 fortunately si uated; the natural conditions being favourable and satis- 

 factory, the planter is not called upon to endeavour to modify them in 

 any way. 



But the same can by no means be said of the other two essential 

 conditions, an adequate supply of air and of water. 



In the absence of a proper supply of air the roots of the palms 

 are unable to breathe, with the result that poisonous compounds are 

 formed within them and the palms become unhealthy. 



While all ordinary land plants require to breathe through their 

 roots the coconut palm is one of the very few which actually develops 

 special organs designed solely for the purpose of enabling its roots to 

 breathe. These organs take the form of small, hard white projections 

 which appear at irregular intervals along the root strands. The very 

 lact that the palm puts forth these special breathing organs is sufficient 

 indication of the necessity for an adequate supply of air to the roots. 



While every planter in the world is perfectly well aware that a 

 supply of water is essential to all forms of animal and vegetable life, 

 the huge quantity of water required for the perfect development and 

 growth of the coconut palm may possibly come as something of a 

 surprise to those who have not made a special study of the subject. A 

 very fair idea of whstfj the requirements of the palm really amount to 

 can be formed by a consideration of the fact that more than half the 

 total weight ot a fully grown palm, including the roots, stem, branches 

 and leaves, is made up of nothing more nor less than water. In other 

 words, suppose the total weight of the palm amounts to 2,000 lbs., then 

 approximately 1,200 lbs. are composed purely and simply of water. 

 Moreover, for every single pound of dry matter of which the palm is 

 composed somo 400 to 500 pounds of water require to be absorbed into 

 the roots, passed up the stem and finally evaporated off into the atmos- 



