37 

 from trf:.es past the middle age — not, however, froro aged ones"- 



and froin clusters containing- few fruits. 



The nuts for seed should nnt , on being gathered, be allow- 

 ed to fall to the earth, but be lowered in a basket or fastened 

 to a rope. If let fall the polished coYer to the fibres will 

 be injured and collect damp about the nut, or the shell inside 

 may be cracked, and the water disturbed. If the nuts are 

 allowed to dry on the tree before gathering, the plants are 

 liable to be lost, not having water inside to cherisii the grovrth 

 of the sprout (before the actual roots shoot into the soil). 



The seed nuts after being gathered, should be carefully 

 kept for not less than a month before they are planted (in 

 order that some of the moisture be absorbed, and the hard 

 outer skin or rind be rendered dry and water proof). If the 

 seed be iminediately planted, the outer pod with the containing 

 fibres will rot, ard. there will be no sprout. On the other 

 hand, should a longer time intervene between gather in fr and 

 planting seed than prescribed, the capsxile of the fruit will 

 fall off, and consequently the exposiire to daiop and rain will 

 affect the eyes. The seeds shoiild be planted on an elevated 

 plot or bed of land, where water will not stagnate. If 

 placed in flower pots with good soil and sand in them, no 

 damage will be done by white ants, and very few will fail to 

 germinate. If, however, they are placed on a hard soil which 

 the roots cannot penetrate, and exposed to the sun, the water 

 inside will dry up, damage will be done by ants, and those fev/ 

 that throw out shoots will be weak, and on transplPx.nting , the 



