174 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



criterion those trees that bear well and give 

 bold, even nuts should be selected, and the 

 seed-nuts from them planted. It is to be borne in 

 mind that there is a good deal of individuality 

 in different trees, much more than would appear 

 on the surface, and what exactly constitutes 

 a good tree it is difficult to say ; yet while it 

 cannot be predicted with absolute certainty 

 that the nut from a good tree will exactly re- 

 produce its good quality, it can be assumed 

 with a fair amount of faith that a good nut will 

 produce a good tree, which the carelessly 

 chosen seed will only do by chance. It should 

 always be borne in mind that roundish nuts 

 with a full-looking skin, without grooves or too 

 marked an elongation or protuberance at the 

 end, are invariably the best, and that excep- 

 tional size is not so much to be desired, as it 

 will generally be found that this quality is 

 mainly made up of husk at the expense of the 

 nut and the meat contained therein. 



With regard to colour there are reddish nuts, 

 whilst others are green, and some are of a 

 yellowish hue. The greenish nuts are pre- 

 disposed to take odd shapes and to contain 

 the least meat ; but even here there is a deal 

 of divergence owing to locality, and the only 

 safeguards are actual tests made on the spot. 

 Having an eye to the cheap and safe transport 

 of the nuts, it is well, as a rule, when pur- 

 chasing seed-nuts, to select a plantation which 

 is as close to hand as possible. If there is 



