Planting in the West Indies 63 



five years old, and known to produce a good 

 crop of medium-sized nuts of good quality. 

 As we advise our readers elsewhere, the West 

 Indian experts also urge that " the trees from 

 which the seed-nuts are taken should, as far as 

 possible, be growing in a district whose general 

 conditions of soil and climate are similar to 

 those of the district to be planted." When 

 the trees have been selected, the nuts also 

 must be carefully picked over and chosen. 

 They should be of medium size, not elongated, 

 with a thin husk and thick kernel. The 

 thickness of the husk may be tested by insert- 

 ing a knife until it reaches the shell. Large 

 nuts often have a very thick husk and a thin 

 kernel, which is not desirable, while a small 

 crop of large nuts is not as remunerative as a 

 large crop of medium-sized nuts. The seed- 

 nuts must have ripened on the tree, and be 

 exactly ripe. The degree of ripeness can be 

 tested by shaking. If it is unripe, and conse- 

 quently still full of liquid, it will only give a 

 dull, heavy sound ; when ripe and only about 

 two-thirds full, it gives a sharp, clear sound 

 which is easily distinguished from the first 

 after a little practice. Nuts that are to be 

 used for seed should not be thrown down from 

 the tree, but should be carefully lowered, and 

 care should be exercised not to damage them 

 in any way. In some cases the nuts, even 

 when ripe, contain a large quantity of water, 

 and it is necessary to allow them to dry in the 



