170 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE CHAP. 



healthy trees. The Hindoos are alive to the necessity of 

 watering the plants, and they have a pretty adage, specially 



iUe dian a PP lied to this P art of the cultivation : it is" Water me 

 " continually during my youth, and I will quench thy thirst 

 "abundantly during the whole course of my life" In good 



When the land, and with careful cultivation, the trees will begin to 



trees begin n , re . .. . 



to bear. flower in the fifth year, or even earlier in some instances, 

 but the full bearing will not commence before a period rang- 

 ing from the seventh to the twelfth year from planting, and 

 thereafter until about the twentieth year the crops will go on 

 increasing provided a proper system of cultivation be kept up. 



ENEMIES OF THE TREES. Fortunately the cocoa-nut palm 

 has not so many enemies in the West Indies as in the East, 

 but great attention must be paid by the cocoa-nut planter to 

 the cultivation, so as to detect at once the ravages of any 

 blight or animal that may be injuring the trees or ruining the 

 crops. It is the old story of a " stitch in time saving nine." 

 A disease, taken at the commencement of the symptoms, 

 may often be easily overcome ; but, if it be allowed to make 

 progress, it will often defy every remedy. 



Scale blight. In some places the leaves of the cocoa-nut palm are 

 attacked by a scale insect, or coccus, which may easily be 

 detected by careful examination. Little scales are seen 

 closely applied to the leaves, after a time the leaves attacked 

 turn brown and die, and eventually the plant may be killed. 

 Such blights are prone to attack weakly trees planted in un- 

 suitable situations, and badly cultivated, but sometimes they 

 invade healthy trees, properly cultivated, in the best soils 



Affected and climates. When a few trees only are affected they may 

 be cut down and destroyed by fire. Or, the following emul- 

 Slon ' usec ^ to ^^ t ^ ie sca * e msect on orange trees, may be 

 applied to the affected leaves : 



Kerosene .... 2 gallons 

 Insecticide. Soft Soap \ pound 



Water i gallon 



