288 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



preliminary method. And it is a method which 

 will be found to pay. Suppose the nuts are 

 taken direct to the plantation and placed out in 

 the holes dug about 30 ft. apart, then if the 

 area is extensive it is impossible to give the 

 young seedlings the same attention as in a 

 nursery. Our teachers in forestry recommend 

 the formation of local nurseries for the supply 

 of seedlings to plant up cleared areas, and here 

 the conditions are practically the same. For 

 every 200 acres a small nursery of about 3 acres 

 should be selected on good deep soil where the 

 drainage is satisfactory. During the early 

 stages of germination, artificial watering is 

 advisable : consequently a good supply of 

 water near at hand is an advantage, and the 

 nursery should be shaded as much as possible. 

 The question of shade is an important one. If 

 fully exposed to the sun's rays or to a continued 

 period of drought, the young sensitive seedlings 

 are liable to wilt and fade away, and even 

 though they do eventually recover they have 

 not the same vigour as those grown under 

 shade. In open exposed areas where natural 

 shelter cannot be obtained, part of the nursery 

 should be roofed over with light bamboo work 

 on which coco-nut leaves can be spread. At 

 first a fairly close canopy can be maintained, 

 but as the seedlings appear the shade may be 

 gradually removed to admit more and more 

 light and sunshine. The young seedlings are 

 heavy feeders on phosphate and potash, and 



