592 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



the seed, has already been discussed. When 

 the fruit is nearing maturity it changes from 

 green to yellowish, brownish or reddish. In 

 this respect there is considerable variation. 

 The same is the case as regards size and shape 

 of fruit, size and form of endocarp, size of seed, 

 and thickness of husk, shell and meat. These 

 variations are fully discussed in my chapters 

 (being part of the series of articles mentioned 

 above) on cultivated strains. Nor is the time 

 which it takes the fruit to mature always the 

 same. This is mainly dependent upon the 

 vigour of the palm, the seasons, the character 

 of the soil and the habitat. As an average 

 period, eight to ten months may be given.' 

 This represents the time from fertilization to 

 ripeness ; add to it six or eight weeks for the 

 development of the inflorescence, and it is 

 seen that we are in pretty near agreement. 



"But when you state that 'pollination takes 

 place to a certain extent before the actual full 

 opening of the sheath, so that young fruit, 

 which may or may not properly set, is 

 observed half-formed as soon as the flower- 

 spike comes into view,' then you are wrong. 

 You have evidently mistaken the female flower 

 bud for the young fruit (the fertilized ovum). 

 In this plant in-breeding is so exceptionally 

 well guarded against that it is well-nigh im- 

 possible, the pollen grains and the ovules of 

 one and the same inflorescence never arriving 

 at maturity simultaneously. On this point I 



