228 



THE COCOANUT PALM. 



Drawing toddy for a few montlis is thought to check the habit in 

 some trees of dropping immature fruit, and again of preventing 

 injurious animals and insects from infesting plantations, the frequent 

 visits of the men to the trees being a check to their forming nests and 

 otherwise remaining hid in the tree tops. 



Overdrawing of toddy will cause the luxuriant trees to dwindle 

 away and acquire very sickly habits, and may make them barren ; 

 hence, if a tree is allowed to be drawn for toddy for six months, this 

 should not be repeated till another five years at least have elapsed, 

 otherwise they become exhausted and short-lived. Ants, bees, and 

 other creatui'es are attracted by the sweet toddy : not only should the 

 vessel be protected from them, but the liquid, as before noticed, should 

 not be spilled over the young leaves. 



While certain of the fruit-shoots are cut for toddy the others will 

 still produce cocoanuts, as well as those previously developed ; but if 

 three or four be used for this purpose, the others will di'y away or be 

 of very little use. Even when a spathe is partly used for toddy and 

 left, provided the part containing the buds remains undestroyed, a few 

 fruit may be produced on that stalk. 



Five parras, of ten edangalies each, of good arrack may be made 

 from a single tree devoted to this purpose during a single year ; but 

 some very good trees will give, though rarely, eight to ten parras. 

 - Gathering some of the tender cocoanuts from the earlier bunches 

 will develop the succeeding bunches greatly, and strengthen the 

 whole tree very materially. It is not, however, 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 too 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 foot stalk on the tree. It must be 

 remembered that the drooping leaves are intended to protect the tree 

 stem from the burning sun. 



Thirty species of the cocoanut are described and named in the 

 East as in the subjoined list ; but cultivation and incidental natui-al 

 causes have much to do with this diversity, and in a few cases these 

 are but imaginary distinctions : 



Names. Description. 



1. The green cocoanut .. The fruit and fronds are of a bright green. 



2. The black or dark . . These are of a dark green. 



3. The native . . . . The fruit has a yellow tinge. 

 This name is given to what is supposed to be 



the best kinds, one variety yellow and the 

 other a light brown or light colour, and 

 of beautiful form, 



6. The reddish cocoanut The nut has a strong red tinge. 



7. The red ditto , . , . Is brighter than the last. 



8. The crimson ,. .. Even the pulp and fresh fibres of the husk 

 round the nut are pink, and the fronds 

 are reddish. 



4. (rt) Goulpatra 



5. (6) Ditto . . 



