ORANGES AND COCO-NUTS. ( J9 



not planted deep down where the roots could have firm hold of 

 the ground : hence they were leaning over against each other, 

 and many 'had been completely overthrown by strong winds. 



In hot, sandy soils, young coco-nut plants should be placed 

 in holes (at the bottom of an inverted cone) 3 feet wide and 

 3 feet deep in the centre ; if possible, a small quantity of manure 

 or good surface soil should be mixed with the sand and placed 

 at the bottom of the pit. If the weather is very dry, the young 

 plants require to be well " mulched," i.e., covered round with 

 trash, vegetable debris, or leaf-mould, and regularly watered 

 until they are fully established. 



Where the soil is deep and rich, and the land cool, the same 

 care and attention are not absolutely necessary, but in every 

 case I would recommend that the young plants be placed in' 

 holes sufficiently deep to allow the roots to have firm hold 'of 

 the ground, and thus be able to withstand, strong winds. 



With regard to the distance's at which coco-nuts should be 

 planted, due regard must be had to the character of the soil and 

 the probable growth of the trees. * 



It is better to plant too widely than too closely. Distances 

 of say 21 feet are much too close for British -Honduras, and as 

 a rule it would be better to fix the distance at 28 to 30 feet 

 for average soils, and 33 feet (half a chain) for rich, good 

 soils. 



Where trees are planted too closely, they are drawn up into 

 long feeble stems, and bear poor crops, the individual nuts being 

 small and light. The mistake of too close planting can only be 

 rectified by taking out ' every other tree, when, again, they will 

 stand at such wide distances apart, that a great portion of the 

 land will be wasted. 



A coco-nut plantation in Jamaica, well established and in 

 full bearing (say at the end of eight years with sixty trees to 



