588 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



3.27 cents per lb., while in kainit it is 

 4.88 cents per lb. In regard to the ques- 

 tion of kainit for diseased coco-nut trees, 

 there seems no reason why it should not 

 do the same as common salt, and I always 

 recommend it. We must keep in mind, how- 

 ever, that it is not practicable to use either 

 kainit or any other chemical for rectifying 

 improper physical soil conditions. 



"The disease described as Pestalozzia pal- 

 marum, as well as all others that cause what 

 is usually termed bud-rot, is nearly always 

 prevalent on unsuitable soils, and practically 

 absent where the natural conditions are 

 favourable for the coco-nut palm. In the case 

 referred to, the soil is unquestionably the 

 cause of the trouble. As far as I remember I 

 visited the place at one time, and was not very 

 favourably impressed with the conditions. I 

 tried kainit on trees similarly located in the 

 Isle of Pines (off Cuba) three years ago, and 

 it has since been reported that none of those 

 trees died for two years ; on the other hand, 

 the dose was repeated about a year ago, but 

 several of the trees have died since. The 

 theory of placing a bag of salt in the heart of 

 the trees as suggested on p. 238 in your book, 

 seems plausible, provided the disease is 

 carried by insects, and in that case of course, 

 kainit would do as well ; planters should re- 

 member, however, that it is not always the 

 absence of potash or other plant foods that 



