BANANAS AS NURSE-PLANTS 49 



Although easily blown over by high winds from an 

 unusual quarter, they adapt themselves in a wonderful 

 manner, by putting out strong anchoring roots, to resist 

 a considerable force of wind if blowing fairly steady from 

 one quarter. 



The fruit is produced in about fifteen months, and 

 yields an abundant supply of food. It is very remunera- 

 tive, if there is a market for it, and, at any rate, can be 

 utilized for the estate labourers. 



Coco-nuts. Although coco-nut palms do not need nurse- 

 plants, it is desirable that the long period of about seven 

 years before they yield a crop should not be wholly un- 

 remunerative for the waiting planter, and that some paying 

 catch -crop should be grown. If there are estate labourers 

 to be fed, it is often essential to have a supply of food 

 ready to hand. It may even be necessary to attract 

 labour by providing the supply, even if nothing is actually 

 charged for it. If there is a market for the fruit, bananas 

 will give a handsome profit, and it will not be necessary 

 to live on capital while waiting for the coco-nut crop. 

 If coco-nuts are planted at a distance of 30 ft. by 30 ft., 

 a banana plant may be put in between each pair of coco- 

 nut palms and one in the centre between every four 

 palms. They may be removed at the end of six or seven 

 years. 



Cacao. Cacao requires nurse-plants to shade it in the 

 young state and to protect it from drying winds, and 

 nothing is better for the purpose than the banana. They 

 should be planted and allowed a start before the cacao is 

 put out. Stakes or pegs should mark where the cacao 

 plants are to go, and the bananas planted in the rows, one 

 between each cacao stake, so as not to interfere with 

 the ploughing, before and after the cacao is put out. 

 The bananas may be kept growing for about five 

 years, and then thinned out very gradually so as not 

 to expose the young plants of cacao suddenly to the 

 sun's heat. 



If high winds blow down some of the bananas, it may 



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