THE COCONUT AND ITS USES. 11 



soil, climate, etc., are so favourable that the palms flourish 

 naturally, and could be brought to a higher level of 

 productivity by scientific, up-to-date methods ; native 

 labour is abundant and cheap ; land is available at 

 moderate rates ; West Africa is much nearer the prin- 

 cipal European markets than most other coconut-growing 

 regions, consequently freightage is cheaper, the copra 

 arrives in a better condition, and commands a higher 

 price ; the coast is outside the hurricane zone, and thus 

 escapes the destructive storms from which those within 

 the hurricane zone so frequently suffer. 



During the four years previous to 1916 an average of 

 over half a million nuts per year had been exported from 

 Dominica, and as the local consumption is considerable, 

 over one million nuts are probably produced annually 

 (Rep., Agric. Dept., Dominica, 1915-16, p. 13). In the 

 Lassoye district about 500 acres were planted with 

 coconuts during the years 1913-14 to 1915-16. In British 

 Guiana the area under coconuts continues to increase, 

 and there were in 1916 over 18,000 acres under this 

 crop compared with 5,140 acres in 1914. Over 80 tons 

 of copra and 3,000,000 nuts were exported in 1916 from 

 this colony. 



Coconuts produced on several plantations on the coast 

 and adjacent islands of Nicaragua have long been noted 

 for their size, fine flavour, and good keeping qualities. 

 An American enterprise has now acquired the planta- 

 tions, extending for 32 miles along the coast below 

 Monkey Point, between the Indian and Corn rivers. 



The soil best suited to the coconut palm is a deep and 

 fertile sandy loam, such as is found in alluvial flats, 

 along the sea coast at the mouths of river,, , or in wide 



