98 THE QUESTION OF FERTILISATION 



his special purpose. The potash salt known as 

 " Kainit" finds favour with a number of planters. 

 It is especially valuable for coconut palms, 

 because of the salt it contains, which conserves 

 the moisture in the soil and is a preventive against 

 insects and other pests. 



The payability, to coin a word, of systematic, 

 scientific fertilisation wherever necessary cannot 

 be too strongly emphasised, and in view of the 

 immense and growing demand for the coconut and 

 all its products, there is no doubt that planters will 

 be disposed to devote great attention to this 

 department of the industry. 



It is a fallacy to assume that cheap manuring 

 is either economical or profitable. It is never 

 cheap, and is often harmful. Experiments in 

 different countries have proved that the appli- 

 cation of well-balanced manures containing 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash gives the 

 highest yields and the most profitable returns. 



As it does not come within the scope of this 

 work to enter into the technical phases of the 

 question of fertilisation, we can only advise those 

 readers who are anxious to further investigate 

 these problems to consult the book to which we 

 have already referred, "Coconuts: The Consols 

 of the East" in which the subject is dealt with 

 in the fullest detail, and with unquestionable 

 authority. 



