CHAPTER I 



SOIL 



HAVING reviewed the situation in general, 

 attention is now directed to the actual work 

 of cultivation, in connection with which this 

 manual is particularly concerned. 



The different branches of the industry are 

 treated under separate headings, and in natural 

 sequence soil should claim first attention. 



Soil. Low alluvial flats near the mouth of 

 rivers, which are occasionally subjected to light 

 inundations, are best suited for the cultivation 

 of the coconut, the alluvial loam usually being 

 rich and deep. 



The climate should be tropical and preferably 

 maritime, for the palm delights in the saline 

 atmosphere of the sea. Some inland planters 

 make up for the lack of this by putting salt 

 with the seedlings when planting out. Salt 

 manuring, however, is a debatable question, for 

 it is shown beyond doubt that given a calcareous 

 soil, coconuts grow as well inland as near the 

 sea, the presence of lime in the ground being 

 an essential. 



Over low-lying lands peaty soil often exists, 



c 



