154 On the Climate, Productions, fyc. of Singapore. 



ing one male tree in the centre of the largest number of female 

 trees. It is not usual to set the trees out in this way, until they 

 are from three to five or even six years old. Previous to this 

 they remain in the nursery. The nuts are planted in the nur- 

 sery from six to twelve inches apart. When the plants are about 

 two years old, they are usually transplanted into another nursery, 

 where they remain until they are set out as above mentioned. 

 The young trees however, are said to be improved by transplant- 

 ing, and some accordingly transplant them once a year before 

 finally setting them out. When the nuts are first planted, they 

 must be separated from the thick hull or rind which envelopes 

 them, and they must be planted within twenty-four hours from 

 the time they are taken from the tree. It is usually six weeks or 

 two months before they come up. Some persons prefer keeping 

 the trees in the nursery until they have blossomed, and thus 

 shown their sex, previous to finally setting them out. When they 

 are set out before they have shown their sex, it is always at the 

 risk of a considerable amount of labor and expense for nothing, 

 as the number of male and female trees is about equal, and as 

 among the young trees there is no way of distinguishing the sex 

 until they put forth their blossoms, which seldom appear before 

 the fifth year. 



The holes into which the trees are set at last, are usually pre- 

 pared several months before the time of transplanting. Each 

 hole is about five feet deep, and about five in diameter. This 

 hole is filled with vegetable matter, top soil, and manure. As 

 the mass settles down it is refilled in a similar manner. A sort 

 of shed about seven feet high, open on two sides, is then built 

 over each hole, and is covered on the top and on the two sides 

 with a sort of thatch made of the leaves of the Nipah palm, (Nipah 

 fruikans, Thunberg.) This shed lasts two or three years. By this 

 time the tree has attained a sufficient size, and is left without any 

 further protection. The tree grows slowly, but attains in time 

 quite a large size. Its size and productiveness depend chiefly on 

 the mode of cultivation. No grass or weeds are to be left about 

 the roots, and suckers are to be removed. Every two or three 

 years the tree is to he thoroughly manured. This is done by 

 making a trench about a foot or eighteen inches deep, and as 

 many in width, entirely around the tree, and corresponding in 



distance from the trunk with the outermost branches. This 



