230 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



surface of the ground why soils along the 

 sea-front are more suitable for trees like the 

 coco-nut, which require a large, regular supply 

 of water for their growth. 



If the land is subject to drought, an appli- 

 cation of from 3 to 4 Ib. of kainit will help to 

 conserve the moisture in the land, while at the 

 same time acting as a direct manure to the 

 palms. If cattle manure is being collected to 

 be applied to the trees, it is good to also 

 sprinkle kainit daily on the heap in order to 

 prevent the loss of its most valuable properties. 

 Manure thus treated is said to be much richer 

 and its action more rapid and lasting than 

 ordinary cattle dung. It is recommended that 

 all cattle manure be kept under cover, out of 

 the rain, and applied to the palms as soon as 

 possible after being collected. 



Since the above was written Rorer reported 

 that the importance of the disease has been 

 somewhat minimized in Trinidad, and that both 

 in Trinidad and Tobago he saw a great deal 

 of bud-rot, which he describes as follows : 

 '' Bud-rot in its beginning appears as water- 

 soaked areas varying in size from tiny spots to 

 places 7 in. or 8 in. in length at the base of the 

 leaves, spikes or swords, or on the upper part 

 of the trunk itself, spreading into the fibrous 

 and moist 'strainer,' through to the next inner 

 leaf. The progress of the disease in these 

 hard leaf base tissues is slow, but in the soft 

 central leaf tissues it is very rapid." 



