164 HORTICULTURE 



Root pruning and careful manuring are the secrets of success- 

 ful coconut cultivation. In the southern districts, coconut 

 topes are irrigated, but in the north a surface mulch of 

 fine soil is provided by ploughing immediately after the 

 rains. 



West Coast. 



Ripe nuts are carefully gathered from the middle-aged 

 trees in February-March, germinated and planted out after 

 six months to three years, in February-March or June-July, 

 according as the land is low or high lying. Sixty trees per 

 acre is a fair number, but even double the number is not 

 uncommon in certain parts. 



Sandy loams are the best. Along sea-coast and river banks 

 they flourish very well. The yield per tree varies from 10 to 

 100 nuts. The trees may live long, 75 years or more ; 

 generally begin to bear fruit in about 12 years increasing in 

 yield up to 60. It has been observed along salt water river 

 banks that the trees begin to bear in about 5 years, but die 

 an earlier death. 



They require plenty of sun and water, and respond to 

 heavy manuring. They are opened out in June-July and 

 manured with green leaves and ashes. This operation 

 facilitates percolation of water and formation and develop- 

 ment of young roots. 



There is nothing else in the West Coast to be compared to 

 this tree in point of yield and usefulness, every bit of it being 

 of great economical value. It is therefore rightly called 

 " Kalpaka Vriksha," i.e., the tree that gives all the require- 

 ments of man. 



Areca NUT3. 



Ripe nuts are gathered from old trees and seedlings are 

 raised from them. When about six months old, they are 

 transplanted, generally in June- July. Loamy soils at the 

 bottom of a valley, cool and moist, are the best fitted. They 

 grow straight and tall, begin to bear in about 10 years and 

 may live over 80 years, the yield becoming less and less after 

 middle age. They give three to six bunches, varying from 

 50 to 200 nuts each, even more in favourable localities if 

 properly watered and heavily manured. A rupee per tree is 

 not an exaggerated figure. The nuts are prepared and largely 

 exported from the West Coast. They are used for chewing 

 with chunam and betel leaves, with or without tobacco. 

 They are valuable as a medicine. The stem is much used for 

 house construction. 



