Manuring 3 1 7 



of such trees is naturally low, and we must 

 make up this by the application of plant foods 

 before any appreciable difference can be noted 

 in the yields. We often find in these neglected 

 plantations, however, that the trees are too 

 close together, and not only are the yields 

 unprofitable, but these trees are often in a 

 very unhealthy condition with bud-rot, and 

 are thus a source of infection to healthier 

 palms in the neighbourhood. The first step 

 should be to thin out the plantation till the 

 distance apart each way is not less than 25 ft. 

 It is hard to convince a native as to the 

 wisdom of this, but it will be work that pays. 

 After this thinning, cultivation and manuring 

 can be more uniformly practised. A heavy 

 manuring should be given the first year or 

 so in order to restore the vigour of the trees 

 and to promote the formation of nuts. In such 

 cases the first year's manuring may do very 

 little beyond improving the appearance of the 

 trees, but after the second year an increase in 

 the crop is bound to take place. A manure 

 composed largely of organic material is prefer- 

 able, and the following mixture should give 

 good 'results : 



Castor cake 

 Tankage 



Sulphate of ammonia 



Kainit 



Muriate of potash 



Sufficient for i acre 700 Ib. 



