COCONUTS 69 



tations come into bearing the use of cover crops and light ap- 

 plications of potash and phosphoric acid will help to maintain 

 the yield. Some irrigation may be necessary until the young 

 trees have become thoroughly established with roots reaching 

 down to water. The growth periods of the coconut are about 

 as follows: Leaves with the mature pinnate form appear at 

 15 months, a beginning of a trunk appears at 4 years, the first 

 flowers are commonly observed at the age of 5 years, and the 

 first fruit at 6 years. These figures perhaps represent the 

 average conditions in the Tropics at sea level. In higher alti- 

 tudes or latitudes the growth is slower. Even in the Tropics 

 most trees do not begin to bear on a commercial scale until 

 they reach the age of 7 to 10 years. In some extra tropical 

 localities, however, as for example, in southern Florida, coco- 

 nuts may begin to bear at the age of 4 or 5 years. The reasons 

 for this early maturity are not well understood. 



Flowering and fruiting of the coconut goes on almost con- 

 tinuously and ripe nuts are to be had every month of the year. 

 The nuts are usually picked every two months, but in Zanzibar 

 only four pickings a year are commonly made. It is not rare 

 to find individual trees which mature 15 nuts per month or 

 at the rate of 180 nuts a year. I have seen a yield of 200 

 nuts from one tree in 12 months, but one cannot depend upon 

 more than 100 nuts per tree per year even under the best con- 

 ditions. In fact, the commercial average is probably not above 

 50 nuts for each mature tree per year. On poor, thin, and 

 sandy soils the average may be reduced to 15 to 20 nuts per 

 year. The coconut comes into full bearing at the age of 18 to 

 20 years. 



The size of the coconut varies according to variety. De- 

 pending upon the variety, from 3,500 to 7,000 nuts are re- 

 quired for the production of a ton of copra. A ton of copra 

 in turn will yield 1,200 pounds of coconut oil and 800 pounds 

 of coconut meal or poonac. In the experience of the Ceylon 

 planters, 165 pounds of coir fiber are obtained from every 



