Laying-out the Plantation 205 



It was reckoned that, in Malay, low grass 

 lands would cost $25 ($ *= 2s. 4d. per acre) to 

 cut, burn off, drain and plant, including the 

 cost of the seed-nuts. The importance of 

 proper drainage was shown by the statement 

 that the cause of some dead trees was probably 

 due to the want of drainage. Experiments in 

 the Philippines have proved that coco-nuts will 

 grow away from the sea, in suitable i.e., loose, 

 light soil provided there is ample water in 

 the subsoil, placed there either by natural or 

 artificial means, and that this water is in no 

 wise stagnant, but has the same, or as nearly 

 as possible the same, constant ebb and flow 

 about the roots of the palms that they enjoy 

 along the sea-shore. 



Those about to plant coco-nuts who are not 

 satisfied with the size of the local nuts, would 

 do well to get into touch with shippers or 

 planters along the San Bias centre in Panama, 

 or those firms in London who are trying to 

 arrange to supply these seed-nuts, and import 

 a supply of them from that centre, which 

 has not only been noted for its coco-nuts for 

 generations past, but has also, of late, added 

 new plantations which, together with the older 

 ones, are carefully looked after. All who have 

 spoken to us of San Bias nuts describe the 

 centre as being perfectly free of disease, but 

 this we cannot vouch for from personal 

 experience. 



