86 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



it has a certain amount of reserve in it, will 

 probably beat seed at stake put down at the 

 same time, and for this reason is to be preferred. 

 Stumps are not available in the F.M.S., and the 

 planter should put in young plants with four or 

 five pairs of leaves, or failing that, seed at stake, 

 in which case it is probably safer to germinate 

 the seeds first, but they should be put out as 

 soon as the shoot shows, and great care taken to 

 see that it is not broken. 



"The usual enemies of other cultivation at 

 stake will, of course, attack coffee put out in the 

 field as seed. The seeds should be covered very 

 slightly, and well shaded by palm leaves or 

 ferns. If ferns are put in green they will curl 

 up and become useless. 



" Seed at stake is undesirable in hilly land, as 

 much of it is liable to be swept out of place or 

 covered up so deep in detritus that it is unable 

 to send its young shoots above ground. Putting 

 out young plants is in every respect much safer 

 and better. If the planter has to start with 

 seeds he will lose nothing in growth or other- 

 wise by starting them in a nursery. When 

 transplanting, the lateral roots may be trimmed 

 or left alone, but the soil must be pressed fairly 

 firmly round the root. When left loose it can- 

 not retain moisture, and the young plants fail if 

 a drought comes on after planting out. 



"Weeding. Robusta must be kept absolutely 

 clean-weeded. Hand weeding is best. Where 



