88 THE SEED-NUT AND THE NURSERY 



This is the system advocated by most up-to-date 

 plantation managers, and although it appears the 

 slower method, it is the most economical, as the 

 germinating core is the vital spot in the coconut. 

 Most frequently it is heart-shaped, and fills the 

 bulk of the cavity left by the milk in the interior 

 of the kernel. It is buff- coloured, of a cellular, 

 spongy consistency, and emits a pleasant sweet 

 odour like a flower. 



In conclusion, it must not be overlooked that at 

 this critical stage certain pests become abnormally 

 active, being attracted by the young and tender 

 vegetation of the seed-nuts whose core is their 

 special objective, it being one of their favourite 

 tit-bits. 



* Seed-nuts having been selected, the next care 

 is to plant them in carefully located nurseries. 

 For this purpose a planter usually chooses a 

 fairly large, flat, well-drained piece of land 

 with a light soil, or, as some prefer, a gently 

 sloping position which facilitates drainage. The 

 location should be as central as possible, and not 

 too far from the area to be planted, so that the 

 seedlings may be transported with the minimum of 

 trouble and risk. There should be good water 

 facilities for irrigation purposes, otherwise wells 

 must be sunk. While not in all cases essential, 

 there is a great advantage if the spot chosen is 

 shadedlby trees. Dealing with this question, one 



