126 PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE 



Coconuts and their products yield the chief exports 

 from Ceylon, Polynesia, and a large part of Malaya, and 

 are a very important crop of every tropical country. In 

 the Philippines, the best coconut district is about the 

 base of Mt. Banahao, in- Laguna and Tayabas. Copra 

 ranks third in value among the Philippine exports, and 

 is increasing in importance. 



CONDITIONS OF GROWTH 



Heat. The coconut is distinctly a plant of the torrid 

 zone. It grows as far north as Florida and produces 

 fruit, but not enough to be of any value. It must have 

 a very uniform temperature, which must average about 

 22 for the year. An altitude of 500 meters is probably 

 the highest limit of its profitable culture, even for local 

 use, in the Philippines. 



In these islands the coconut is never injured by heat, 

 however great. In direct sunshine the leaves become 

 much hotter than the air about them, and this greatly 

 increases the transpiration. Once when the temperature 

 at San Ramon was 28.3 in the shade, and 31.5 in the 

 sun, that of a coconut leaf in the sun was 38. 



Light. The coconut needs much light, as we'll as a 

 high temperature. Without more light than most 

 plants need, it will bear but little fruit. The tree thrives 

 best on the seashore, where it receives more light than 

 in any other place. 



Tell, in figures, what effect the amount of light has on the production 

 of nuts. The answer is given in Chapter V, Plants and Light. 



