THE CUBA REVIEW 



25 



Native corn, showing general characteristics. Experiments conducted at the Cuban Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station to improve this corn have been successful in increasing the yield 

 in some cases from a single ear to the stalk to four or five ears to the stalk. The lower ear 

 measured 4^4 inches and the upper 3^. 



Cocoanut Growing in the Philippines 



During the agricultural conferences held 

 in Manila last February, questions on co- 

 coanut growing arose, and the answers may 

 be helpful to our readers in Cuba. 



Planting sugar-cane adjacent to cocoa- 

 nut groves, was not harmful, it was stated, 

 provided the cane plantation was carefully 

 weeded and kept in the best possible con- 

 dition, but under ordinary conditions the 

 cane harbored insects, very harmful to the 

 cocoanuts and which in many instances 

 killed them. 



It was stated that about twenty-two 

 varieties of cocoanut trees exist on tlie is- 

 lands. 



According to the experience of some 

 planters, trees grown near the sea were 

 much more productive than those planted 

 inland, even though the soil near the sea 

 was poorer. Some growers also found 

 that trees near the seashore were less liable 

 to attacks of insects, because of the strong 

 sea breezes. 



Where the soil was rich, newly planted 

 seed did not require shade. 



It was not considered advisable to plant 

 other crops among trees, but the necessity 

 for keeping the plantation clear and in the 

 best possible condition was emphasized. 



Another grower said that 25 to 30 per 

 cent of his trees grown from poor seed died 

 at the age of 10 or 12 years even if not 

 attacked by disease or insects. 



Alluvial lands were mentioned as espe- 

 cially favorable for cocoanut, although it 

 was stated that it was more particularly a 



question of sufficient water and food than 

 of the nature of the soil. If fruit full of 

 meat is desired, seed must be taken from 

 trees which yield heavily in this respect. 



Some asked about the value of the husk 

 in planting the seed, and the reply w'as 

 that it was desirable as the husk preserved 

 the w^ater and was therefore valuable in 

 dry soils. Sometimes the husk interferes 

 with the growth of the young plants, and 

 to guard against this, many growers cut 

 a small hole in the husk. 



On the islands southwest of Java, 195,000 

 cocoanut trees were uprooted recently by 

 a cyclone. In this section ten nuts is the 

 annual average per tree and 7,000 nuts make 

 1 ton of copra, worth about $120. 



Jamaica planters are becoming alarmed 

 at the spread of the cocoanut tree disease 

 in their island, for many groves are af- 

 fected. Some planters disinfect every seed 

 nut by dipping it into a bath of bordeaux 

 mixture before planting. The trees are also 

 carefully examined every three months. 

 Where red gum is seen the spot is cut 

 out and tar appHed, which has been ef- 

 ficacious. 



Destroying Diseased Cocoanut Trees 



Secretary of Agriculture Ortiz has or- 

 dered the destruction by burning of all 

 the diseased cocoanut trees in and around 

 Baracoa. 



The disease is known among the Cu- 

 bans as "cocoters" and among plant path- 



