306 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



Then we have the guanos and complete 

 organic manures, of which the Peruvian variety 

 is to be chosen for preference, because it is 

 more easily soluble and disintegrates more 

 readily. Its percentages of nitrogen are about 

 6 to 9 per cent. ; it also contains of soluble 

 phosphoric acid 8 to 9 per cent., and potash 



1 to 2 per cent. Fish guano contains rather 

 more nitrogen than the above, besides some 

 4 to 5 per cent, of phosphoric acid, and about 



2 per cent, of potash. Bone meal is used in 

 several forms, but unless they are primarily 

 treated and disintegrated, if not ground to 

 powder, their constituents are difficult of solu-- 

 tion. This form of manure is specially useful 

 when reserve supplies are wanted ; but like all 

 home-made or local manures, large estates find 

 the supplies available fall far short of actual 

 requirements. 



The manures best known for meeting the 

 phosphatic requirements of the coco-nut palm 

 are superphosphates and Thomas's phosphate 

 powder or basic slag. 



The manurial value of the superphosphates 

 (ordinary and concentrated) depends upon 

 their content of phosphoric acid soluble in 

 water and in citrate of ammonia solution. 

 Whereas the percentage of water-soluble 

 phosphoric acid ranges from 1 2 to 20 per cent, 

 in ordinary superphosphates, the concentrated 

 superphosphates contain 40 to 43 per cent, 

 water-soluble phosphoric acid, and 2 to 3 per 





