47 

 animals and Insects from Infesting plantations, the frequent 

 visits of the men to the trees being a check to thd r forming 

 nests and otherwise rem.aining hid in the tree tops. 



ViThile certain of the fruit shoots are cut for toddy the 

 others will still produce cocoanuts, as well as those previous- 

 ly developed ; but if thcee or four be used for this purpose, 

 the others will dry away or be of very little use. Even v;hen 

 a spathe is partly used for toddy and left, provided the part 

 containing the buds remains undestroyed, a few fruits may be 

 produced on that stalk. 



Gathering some of the tender cocoanuts from the earlier 

 branches will develop the succeeding bunches greatly, and 

 strengthen the v/hole tree very materially. It is not, how- 

 ever, recommended to cut the fruit stems or stalks out before 

 they are matured and dry, as it causes the tree to bleed and 

 lose its most valuable Juices ; hence in order to prevent the 

 possibility of Injury to the tree, owners should permit none 

 but mature fruit to be taken. 



The number of fronds which dry and fall off from a tree 

 Is eight or ten in the course of the year, principally in the 

 hot season. It is usual to cut these off, but if done t<bo 

 early, those next the one cut are affected and fade ; hence 

 only those turning brown should be removed, and leaving a 

 small portion of the footstalk on the tree. It must be 

 remembered that the drooping leaves are Intended to protect the 

 tree stem from the burning sun. 



Trees growing in the most fert^Ele soils will live for a 



