16 



of air is essential to its best development is well shown by comparing a 

 tree subjected to it with the wretched, spindling specimen growing in a 

 sheltered glen or ravine. 



Strong confirmation of this may be found within the artificial environ- 

 ment of a plant conservatory, where it is feasible to reproduce, in the 

 minute detail of soil, water, temperature, and humidity, every essential to 

 its welfare except a good, strong breeze. As a consequence, the palm 

 languishes and it has long been deemed, on this account, one of the most 

 rebellious subjects introduced into palm-house cultivation. 



THE SOIL. 



The soils for cocoanut growing are best selected by the process of exclu- 

 sion. The study of the root development of the palm will prove to be an 

 unerring guide to proper soil selection. 



The roots of monocotyledons, to which, great division this palm belongs, 

 are devoid of the well-defined descending axis, which is possessed by most 

 tree plants, and is often so strongly developed as to permit of rock cleav- 

 age and the withdrawal of food supplies from great depths. 



The cocoanut has no such provision for its support. Its subterranean 

 parts are simply a mat-like expanse of thick, fleshy, worm-like growths, 

 devoid of any feeders other than those provided at the extreme tips of the 

 relatively few roots. These roots are fleshy (not fibrous) and can not 

 thrive in any soil through which they may not grow freely in search of 

 sustenance. It then becomes obvious that stiff, tenacious, or waxy soils, 

 however rich, are wholly unsuitable. All very heavy lands, or those that 

 break up into solid, impervious lumps, and, lastly, any land underlaid 

 near the surface with bed rocks or impervious clays or conglomerates, 

 are naturally excluded. All other soils, susceptible of proper drainage, 

 may be considered appropriate to the growth of the palm. Spons 

 (Encyclop.) advocates light, sandy soils. Simmonds (Trop. Agric.) 

 names nine different varieties suitable for this purpose, describing each at 

 tedious length, and laying more or less emphasis upon a sandy mixture. 

 These might all have been covered by the single word "permeable/ 5 



As a matter of fact every grain of sand in excess of that required to 

 secure a condition of perfect permeability is a positive disadvantage and 

 must be paid for by a correspondingly larger area of cultivation and by 

 future soil amendment. For the rest, the richer and deeper the soil the 

 less the expense of maintaining soil fertility. 



The preparatory work of establishing an orchard is light, provided the 

 location is not one demanding the opening of drainage canals, and on 

 lands of good porosity it involves neither subsoiling nor a deeper plowing 

 than to effectually cover the sod or any minor weed growths with which 

 it may be covered. 



It has long been the reprehensible practice of cocoanut growers to 

 merely dig pits, manure them, set the plants therein, and permit the 



