136 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANtlAL. 



averages more than SO nuts per palm per annum, a fact which makes the 

 magnificent performance of the Nitrate of Soda still more striking. 



It is a common fallacy amongst many Coconut Planters tliat an 

 application of manure to Coconuts will not increase the yield for con- 

 siderably over a year, because it takes from twelve to fourteen months 

 for the nuts to mature. 



No greater mistake could be made. 



In the case of every single trial carried out with Nitrate of Soda on 

 Coconuts the yield has been increased in three to six mouths. A 

 moment's consideration will shew how this is brought. 



Lakhs of rupees are lost annually in Ceylon through the premature 

 fall of young immature Coconuts. The fall of these nuts is caused by 

 the weakness of the slender stalk which holds them to the spike; they 

 are shaken off by the wind and pushed off by their more robust neigh- 

 bours. Now one of the principal effects of nitrogen on plants is lo 

 strengthen and invigorate the vegetative portions, an effect which is 

 easily noted in the increased development of root, stem, foliage and 

 fruit which invariably follows an application of nitrogen. 



Plants take up nitrogen from the soil in the form of Nitrates; from 

 which it folloivs that the nitrogen in such manures as Sulphate of Am- 

 monia, Crushed Fish, Bone Meal, etc., has first to be converted into 

 Nitrates before being of any use to the crop. 



In the case of Nitrate of Soda, the nitrogen is already in the form 

 of Nitrates, no conversion is required : it is absorbed by the plant im- 

 mediately after its application. 



^Yhen applied to Coconuts its immediate effect is to invigorate all 

 parts of the palm, including the vitally important stalks which hold the 

 nuts to the spikes, and the nuts are thus retained on the palm instead of 

 falling to the ground. 



The simplest possible kind of trial will enable any planter to prove 

 for himself the importance of this action of Nitrate of Soda. All he has 

 to do is to select two acres of evenly grown palms, remove any young 

 nuts which have alread fallen, apply a pound and a half of Nitrate of 

 Soda to each palm on one acre, leaving the other acre undressed, and 

 observe the results. 



The diminution in the fall of immature nuts on the blocks to which 

 Nitrate of Soda has been applied has been noted and remarked upon by 

 the Superintendents of every single estate where trials have been car- 

 ried out. 



