Planting in the Philippines 99 



gross profit. After that the returns are bulked 

 with other items. 



The question of the best distance at which 

 the palms are to be planted seems agreed to as 

 30 ft. by 30 ft., or forty-eight to the acre, when 

 the cost of the land does not prohibit this ; 

 although we have heard of planters starting at 

 this distance, and then putting the trees closer 

 to keep down weeds. If, as our Davao friend 

 claims, the palms need space for their leaves to 

 move about freely, then 30 ft. by 30 ft. is not 

 too wide, only, of course, the weeds must be 

 kept down. In case of disease breaking out, 

 the wider distance has, of course, a distinct 

 advantage ; and when closer planting is 

 resorted to, the cost per acre, though not 

 necessarily per tree, for manuring, cultivation, 

 &c., would be increased. 



Mr. Barrett, in common with all leading 

 experts of to-day, tells us to plant wide ; and 

 the manner in which he writes on this subject 

 betokens that he would like the palms planted 

 even wider than the spaces he gives, but is 

 weaning the planters from their close dis- 

 tances by degrees. Unless, he urges, at least 

 8 metres (i metre = 39*37 in.) or 26 ft. 3 in., is 

 allowed between the rows, the yield is seriously 

 affected, and it is believed that the yield of 

 many plantations in the Philippine Isles is fully 

 50 per cent, below normal, due largely to 

 excessive close planting, as on alluvial soil 

 the space should be increased to 10 metres, 



