MANURING 31 



of growth. The first case calls for phosphates, 

 and the second for nitrates. 



The best manures for coconut trees are cow 

 dung and salt mixed; fish refuse; bone dust; 

 guano; castor cake; poonac. 



Cattle manure is undoubtedly excellent, as it 

 adds humus to the soil, and, much in the same 

 way as lime, it binds a loose soil, and renders 

 friable a hard clayey soil. 



A very successful manure mixture used in 

 Ceylon is in the following proportions 



200 Ibs. rape cake. 

 150 Ibs. fish manure. 

 200 ]bs. bone phosphate. 



50 Ibs. sulphate of potash. 

 300 Ibs. kainit (contains 30 per cent. salt). 



This applied at 10 Ibs. per tree costs, including 

 transport and labour, about Sd. per tree. 



Many planters favour semi-circular manure 

 trenches at a few feet from the stem, but in the 

 digging, the primary roots or lateral feeders are 

 severed to the depth of the trench, and the tree 

 to that extent is cut oiF from its accustomed 

 feeding ground, and must depend on the arti- 

 ficial application. 



The roots of the coconut tree are more vigo- 

 rous toward the extremity of the primaries, and 

 diminish gradually in strength toward the 

 stem ; therefore, manure placed in ploughed 

 furrows between two lines of trees, or equi- 

 distant 15 feet from the stems, finds its way 



