Chapter VII 

 The Science of Catchcrops 



NOTHING in connection with coconut 

 planting creates so much discussion or 

 causes such wide difference of opinion as 

 the question of catchcropping, mainly because the 

 value of such crops cannot be standardised in any 

 one district. They vary to a great extent according 

 to the situation, soil, climate, etc., of each estate ; 

 and, of course, the human element, here as else- 

 where, plays an important part in the business. 



Those who have practical experience of the subject 

 are frequently astonished and sometimes amused 

 at the faddish preference displayed by one manager 

 for certain crops, which his neighbours often regard 

 as totally unsuitable or unprofitable. So many 

 men ; so many minds. 



The principal reason for cultivating catchcrops 

 to-day is this : the plantation, as we have seen, 

 takes from four to seven years to arrive at the 

 stage of production, and a prudent manager 

 naturally desires to cultivate in the meantime such 



