250 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



All the preceding is preliminary to what fol- 

 lows on manuring. We are told that Nitrogen 

 30 lb., Phos. Acid 45 lb., Potash 45 lb, Lime 30 

 lb. is "a fairly reliable formula per acre." How 

 these figures are arrived at is not vouch- 

 safed to us, but they are quite inconsistent 

 with what I have quoted previously from this 

 book. 



On the vexed subject of salt, it is stated that 

 on light soil, salt is positively injurious. What 

 of the sea-shore? It is stated further that the 

 coconut palm is able to take up large quan- 

 tities of salt. No tree will take up in large 

 quantities of what is harmful to it. I am a 

 great believer in salt for inland coconut plan- 

 tations, not only because salt forms a large 

 percentage of the constituents of the products 

 of the tree, but also because it is a digester of 

 the soil and helps to keep it moist owing to 

 its hygroscopic properties. 



The writer of the article on Manuring holds 

 practical views as regards artificial manures. To 

 begin with no manure is "artificial." He says 

 that "unless care be exercised in the use of 

 artificial manures it may be attended with 

 a heavy and unnecessary outlay without 

 corresponding returns." That is contrary to 

 the general experience in Ceylon. He suggests 

 that materials locally obtainable will, at the 

 start, suffice. I wonder what estate in the Island 

 will have on it sufficient material to be used as 

 manure, so as to be independent of outside 

 manure? " The coconut tree thrives best where 

 the soil is well provided with Potash, Nitrogen, 

 Phosphates, Lime and slightly saline substances. 

 All these are, without exception, available on a 

 plantation in ninety-nine cases out of a hun 

 dred." Such estates are well worth owning. 



The growing of leguminous plants to add 

 humus to the soil, is suggested, as also the for- 

 mation of compost heap. Artificial manures 

 are said to have most effect on young palms. In 

 Ceylon young palms are not manured as a rule. 

 Backward plants receive a small dose of kainit 

 or ashes and occasionally a basket or two of cat- 

 tle manure. The opinion expressed in what is 

 termed "rational coconut cultivation " is sound. 

 Find out what constituents of plant food are 

 wanting in the soil and supply them. The same 

 cannot be said of the advice given to apply a 

 stimulating nitrogenous manure in the early 

 stages of the career of the palms. It is better 

 to apply half-a-dose of manure annually 

 than a full dose bi-ennially, but the cost will 

 be nearly double. If manure be applied an- 

 nually, it will be advisable to manure one-half 

 of the tree each year. 



It will be news to Ceylon Coconut Planters 

 to be told that in Ceylon systematic manuring 

 with cattle is practised. The modus operandi 

 is described. One head of cattle is kept for 2 or 

 3 acres. The principal food is poonac. At night 

 the animals are kraaled and bedded with thick 

 layers of straw, frequently added to. After 6 

 months the kraal is shifted and the manure 

 made is used with bone meal and other 

 manures to be worked into the soil. The 

 dung from 100 cattle suffices for 10 acres; 1,000 

 head of cattle will be required on a " good 

 sized plantation." 



On the authority of Mr. W . Freudenbtrg it is 

 stated that after a series of yearly manuring, 

 a ten-year-old estate gave an annual crop of 

 80 nuts per tree ; when it was unmanured 

 it gave 50 nuts per tree per annum. Where I 

 wonder is this grand estate ? 



The figures given of the manurial constituents 

 removed from an acre both by ciops and what 

 is required for fronds and the nourishment 

 of the tree, are not in accord with the figures I 

 have in my note-book. 



Two manure mixtures are suggested. I will 

 deal with No. 2 which provides for larger doses 



than the other. 



Sulph. Ammonia ... 120 1b. 



Bone Meal ... 200 ,, 



Superphosphate ... 60 ,, 



Kainit ... 100 „ 



Muriate of Potash ... 70 „ 



550 „ 



I will compare this with the requirements of 

 300 nuts according to Cochrane: — 



Mixture. 3,000 nuts. 

 Nitrogen ... 31- lb. 50-25 lb. 



Phos. Acid ... 72-40 „ 21-64 „ 

 Potash ... 55 30 „ 101-25 ,, 



Salt ... 35' ,, 63-75 „ 



It will be seen that in the mixture suggested 

 there is a very great excess of Phos. Acid and 

 a deficiency of the other constituents. A 

 strange reason for this mixture is given. "These 

 mixtures are based on the information gained 

 from experiments on orchards! " Compare the 

 above with Mudaliyar A E Rajapakse's mix- 

 ture which is commended and is said to have 

 increased the crops from 22 nuts per tree per 

 annum to 51 nuts per tree per annum. 



Nitrogen per acre ... 36 72 lb. 



Phos. Acid „ .. 10512 ,, 



Potash ,, „ ... 66-96 „ 



Salt „ „ .„ 75-60 „ 



