60 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



other crops, nor will he be displacing other 

 cultivations. The land available is often only 

 good for coco-nuts, and so can be valued 

 accordingly ; at the same time there are plenty 

 of rich alluvial lands to be met with close to 

 the sea, on which coco-nuts might reasonably 

 be expected to yield higher profits than any 

 other crop. 



The palms, we are told, thrive best where 

 the mean temperature is from 75 to 85 F., 

 and the mean annual rainfall is not below 

 50 in. It can, however, prosper in drier 

 situations, provided there is a steady flow of 

 water through the soil, such as is occasioned 

 by the drainage of fresh water finding its way 

 to the sea, and by the ebb and flow of the 

 tide. The palms, however, are quite unable 

 to tolerate the presence of stagnant water 

 round their roots, and must also have ample 

 sunlight. As the tree does not do well on 

 steep slopes or in too shaded or sheltered 

 situations, it thrives best on the lowlands 

 round the coast, where the winds would cause 

 cacao, rubber, &c., to prove unsuccessful. 

 Provided the position is open and well drained 

 the best soil is an alluvial loam, such as is 

 formed on the banks of rivers that overflow from 

 time to time. Light, deep, sandy loams, over- 

 lying corals, or any porous substratum, are also 

 suitable, but it must be remembered that the 

 plant depends very greatly on the fertility of 

 the soil, and requires a good supply of humus ; 



