Manuring 299 



While it cannot be gainsaid that the judicious 

 use of artificial manures is extremely beneficial, 

 it need not, in our opinion, be made a sine qua 

 non and a fetish, as some very modern planters 

 are inclined to make it, that every estate must 

 be manured, as the practice, unless care is 

 exercised, may be attended with a heavy 

 and unnecessary outlay without corresponding 

 returns. Wherever one has exercised sufficient 

 care at the start, and has chosen the right 

 location under the proper climatic conditions, 

 it will be found that the materials locally 

 obtainable for this process will, at the start, as 

 a rule suffice, unless the soil shows a marked 

 deficiency in one fertilizing ingredient. In the 

 first place the coco-nut is not a delicate palm, 

 but will respond gratefully and liberally to care 

 and attention, and prove a quick, robust grower 

 under favourable conditions even in only an 

 average soil if the temperature and other con- 

 ditions are right. The coco-nut tree thrives best 

 where the soil is well provided with potash, 

 nitrogen, phosphates, lime, and slightly saline 

 substances. All these are, without exception, 

 available on a plantation in ninety-nine cases 

 out of a hundred, and it is the duty and 

 foresight of the individual manager or owner 

 to see that he always has them available in 

 the right proportions. If he finds the trees 

 are going back then he must look for the 

 cause, and put back into the soil those con- 

 stituents of plant-food which he finds are 



