24 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



Holing. After the ground is thoroughly 

 cleaned, the pits for planting out the young 

 plants should be dug. The larger the pits are 

 the better, but a 2 feet cube is generally con- 

 sidered sufficient. All the soil removed from 

 the pits should be replaced by good surface soil 

 to within 6 inches of the top. When this work 

 is finished, the young plants, which should be 

 from five to seven months old before being 

 removed from the nursery, may now be placed 

 in these holes, leaving the nut of the seedling 

 about 6 inches to a foot below the surface and 

 just slightly exposed. When the plant has come 

 well away, say with about a dozen well-grown 

 leaves on it, the holes should be filled to the top 

 with good surface soil. 



The most favourable seasons in Malaya for 

 planting are during April and May, and again 

 from the middle of September to the end of 

 October. 



Drainage. Where the land is undulating in 

 even slopes, little or no drainage is required, 

 but on the low flat alluvial soil, drainage is 

 of considerable importance, and it is always 

 advisable in this case to have drains dug all 

 round the proposed clearing before felling the 

 iungle or secondary growth. This is especially 

 the case where the soil is of a peaty nature, and 

 here, after the clearing is burnt off, it is of 

 advantage to keep the land exposed for as long 

 as possible, say at least six months, during 



