290 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



Once the young shoots make their appear- 

 ance above the ground their progress is rapid, 

 and as the nuts in the first bed are very close 

 together it is advisable to remove them to a 

 second bed whenever the shoots attain a height 

 of about 3 in. This second bed should be 

 prepared carefully. The compost can be con- 

 veniently applied here along with basic slag 

 and kainit to ensure that sufficient plant food 

 is available in the soil, and the soil should be 

 deep and well worked in order to allow of the 

 proper development of the roots. Three to 

 four feet each way is a convenient distance in 

 the second bed, so that cultivation can be 

 carried on between the rows to keep down 

 weeds. This nursery method just outlined, 

 extending to about two years, i.e., six months 

 in the first seed-bed and over one year in 

 the second, can be strongly recommended, for 

 though it entails much labour initially, the 

 advantage in obtaining strong healthy seedlings 

 for planting out certainly pays in the long run. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



From the nursery the young seedlings are 

 removed to the plantation, and this is best done 

 just before the commencement of the rainy 

 season. In removing the seedlings care should 

 be taken to leave the roots as entire as possible, 

 and to see that no injury be done to the young- 

 shoots, especially at their junction with the nut. 

 This transplanting stage is open to many grave 



