470 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



however, say, the varas had been planted very 

 badly ; in some instances it looked as if no 

 holes had been dug at all for them. The sun 

 and wind should not be excluded from the 

 young coco-nut plants and a continually increas- 

 ing space round them, according to their age, 

 must be kept clear of weeds. 



Where the nuts are planted about 30 ft. 

 apart, I can see no objection to using the 

 space between the rows for some other useful 

 plants, such as bananas, yaqona (Fiji grog, 

 Piper methysticum\ tobacco, maize, &c., the 

 profits from which will help the planter 

 to meet working expenses ; but if cotton, 

 cacao or sisal hemp are to be cultivated 

 for a permanency on the same land as coco- 

 nuts, these should be planted some 40 ft. 

 apart. 



When it is intended to use the land for 

 pasture, some kind of good fodder plant or 

 grass should be established towards the time 

 when cattle may be-allowed amongst the trees. 

 The sensitive plant {Mimosa piidicd) is at 

 present in great favour in Taviuni ; it has 

 stood a good trial, and given satisfaction every- 

 where. It should be kept short, or the stems 

 become woodeny and the prickles on them 

 harden. The drawback to it is its thorns, 

 which make it necessary for the labourers when 

 collecting nuts to have their legs protected 

 in some way, There is a thornless variety 

 of the sensitive plant in Queensland, but it 



