V 



FIELD CULTURE 



137 



most convenient, and that immediately around the tree 

 the ground be hoed often enough to keep it thoroughly 

 clean. The rest of the space between the rows of trees 

 can be left to itself so long as trees do not manage to 

 grow in it. After six months it is desirable to extend 

 the circle which is hoed or thoroughly cleaned to at least 

 a metre. This, however, is not so necessary that it is 

 recommended in places where labour is especially ex- 

 pensive, or so scarce that its use for this purpose would 

 interfere with the extension of the planting. 



Such attention as has just been recommended is all 

 that under favourable conditions needs to be given 

 until the trees come into bearing. It is not only useless, 

 but is distinctly undesirable to clean and keep clean the 

 entire space between the trees, unless it is also kept in 

 cultivation. If the ground in the tropics is kept clean 

 and is not in use, it is sure to deteriorate both by 

 washing and by baking. 



As deviations from the procedure which has just been 

 recommended, some writers have advised moderate culti- 

 vation for the coco-nuts at all times ; and it is said that 

 at least in Ceylon there are some planters who make this 

 their practice. Mr. Orville Wood, an American planter 

 on the gulf of Davao, in Mindanao, states that as an 

 experiment he cultivated a part of a small grove of 

 young trees back of his beach, keeping the rest of the 

 grove clean but without working the ground ; and that 

 at the end of six years the cultivated trees averaged 

 four inches more in diameter than the others. This is 

 indeed a very striking result, and it may prove, as the 

 trees produce, that the money spent in cultivation pays 

 better returns than it would have done if used in planting 

 and giving the merely necessary attention to a larger 

 number of trees. It is my personal opinion that under 

 most labour conditions, such care cannot profitably be 

 given to coco-nuts, and I am sure that where it is 

 practicable to cultivate to this extent, it is advisable to 

 raise catch-crops. 



On the other hand, there are many planters in most 



