134 C0C6NUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



(Special soils demands special treatment. The chief peculiarities of 

 Ceylon soils demanding special attention are lack of nitrogen and acidity. 



The sickly pale green and yellow discolouration of the foliage to- 

 gether with the shrivelled appearance of the cabbage over many acres of 

 Ceylon coconuts provide strong indications of nitrogen-starvation which" 

 can be only too readily confirmed by the chemical analysis of the soil. 



That this deficiency can best be remedied by an application of Nitrate 

 of Soda is proved beyond all question by the results of the scientific in- 

 vestigations given above. 



The usual method of counteracting soil acidity is to apply lime, and 

 it is probable that this substance would prove beneficial to many Ceylon 

 estates. But on no account should a large dressing of lime be applied 

 without first tiying its effects on a small area of land. A far safer and 

 more prudent method of procedure is to select manures of a non-acid or 

 alkaline nature which will themselves neutralise soil acidity. 



Nitrate of Soda is admirably suited to fulfill this purpose. Being 

 an alkaline substance it has a marked effect in neutralising soil acidity 

 and in so doing it sweetens the soil and makes it a more wholesome 

 medium for the healthy development of roots. 



As regards the special requirements of tTie Coconut palm it should 

 be observed that it is the natural fruit of the palm which is harvested. 

 Therefore, that mixture of manures which produces the largest yield of 

 nuts and at the same time promotes the healthy development of the palm 

 is obviously the best fitted to meet the special requirements of the crop. 



Now Nitrate of Soda has been used in Ceylon for many years past 

 to the extent of some thousands of tons per annum and a very large num- 

 ber of trials with Nitrate of Soda on Coconut have been carried out. The 

 success of these trials can be seen by reference to the various text 

 books written en the subject. 



During fcJ>- last few years a further series of scientific trials was 

 commenced wiih a view to determining the exact nature and extent of 

 the influence ot Nitrate of Soda on Coconuts. 



In 1919 '.\ib first of these trials was commenced on an estate in the 

 Kuruncgala district, A. S. Long Price, Esq., the well-known authority on 

 Coconuts, verj kindly undertaking to supervise the 'rial and to have 

 accurate records kept. 



