226 0. F. Cook — History of the Coconut Palm in America. 



fact that it received scientific study only as a maritime plant 

 should not longer obscure the fact that it is also adapted to 

 interior localities with saline soils. The cultural problems of 

 the coconut palm should be investigated quite apart from the 

 idea of maritime habits and distribution. 



The possibility of raising coconuts in frost-free localities out- 

 side the Tropics is not to be tested along the seacoast, but in 

 interior districts where larger amounts of sunlight and heat are 

 available, as in the valleys of southern California and Arizona. 

 The coconut, like many other plants, is not tolerant of shade 

 nor of long-continued cool and cloudy weather. Other species 

 of Cocos that are less exacting in their requirements of sun- 

 light and heat have been found to do well along the California 

 coast. 



The possibility of introducing coconut palms into southern 

 California is not disproved by the absence of these palms from 

 Egypt and Palestine. Though the climatic conditions are 

 probably favorable, it does not appear that any adequate effort 

 has been made to introduce the palms in those countries. 



The ability of the coconut to thrive on seacoasts shows that 

 its requirements of heat are not as great as those of the date 

 palm. Though probably less hardy than the date palm, it is 

 not impossible that the coconut may be able to exist in frost- 

 free localities that have not enough heat for the ripening of 

 dates. 



The possibility of introducing the coconut palm into southern 

 California and Arizona can not be fairly tested by the planting 

 of the maritime varieties. The chances of success will be very 

 much greater with the varieties that are adapted to the dry 

 interior localities of the temperate plateaus of the Andes. 



