ioo Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



or just upon 33 ft. In the Philippines the 

 quincunx system is commonly used, i.e., each 

 tree is set opposite the interspaces of the 

 adjacent rows on either side of it ; this allows 

 each tree a little more room than does the 

 square planting. The following plan is recom- 

 mended as the best, especially for large planta- 

 tions on level lands : Blocks of four trees are 

 set 8 metres apart, and around this block 

 extends a space 10 metres wide ; in other 

 words, the rows alternate 8 and 10 metres in 

 each direction. This, it is claimed, induces 

 a slight leaning of the tree, which facilitates 

 climbing ; it also leaves partially open a con- 

 siderable space which may be planted with 

 beans and other crops, especially during the 

 first eight or ten years. In good alluvial 

 soil a well-grown palm should begin to flower 

 during its fourth or fifth year, but the average 

 bearing age of the Philippine palms as a 

 whole is probably not less than eight years, 

 and in many cases twelve. The delay, how- 

 ever, seems avoidable, as it is due to the 

 poisoning effects of cogon roots and lack of 

 ventilation. No details are given of the 

 annual crop of nuts per palm. 



The Bureau of Insular Affairs (War Depart- 

 ment), Philippine Isles, recently issued a 

 pamphlet on "Coco-nut Growing in the 

 Philippine Isles, with special reference to 

 cost of production and profits from copra 

 making," by Mr. Dean Worcester, which 



