May 1908.J 



425 



Edible Products. 



the fact that the first nourishment of the 

 plant is entirely derived from the endos- 

 perm, and careful lifting of the young 

 plants disclosed the fact that recovery 

 from their moribund condition was, in 

 every instance, coincident with the time 

 that the roots first succeeded in working 

 through the unpalatable mess about 

 them into the outlying good, sweet soil. 



The exposure of the plantation is an 

 important consideration, aud a maritime 

 site should be selected in preference to 

 one far inland, unless it be on an open, 

 unprotected flat, exposed to the influence 

 of every breeze or the fiercest gales that 

 blow. 



The structure of the coconut seems 

 well fitted to endure winds of almost 

 any force, and that a remarkably abun- 

 dant and strong circu lation of air is 

 essential to its best development is 

 well shown by comparing trees subjected 

 to it with wretched, spindling specimens 

 growing in sheltered glen or ravine- 

 Strong confirmation of this may be 

 found within the artificial environment 

 of a plant conservatory, where it is 

 feasible to reproduce, in the minute 

 detail of soil, water, temperature, and 

 humidity, every essential to its welfare 

 except a good, strong breeze. As a con- 

 sequence, the palm languishes and it has 

 long been deemed, on this account, one 

 of the most rebellious subjects intro- 

 duced into palm-house cultivation. 



The Soil. 



The soils for coconut growing are best 

 selected by the process of exclusion. 

 The study of the root development of 

 the palm will prove to be an unerring 

 guide to proper soil selection. 



The roots of monocotyledons, to which 

 great division this palm belongs, are 

 devoid of the well-defined descending 

 axis, which is possessed by most tree 

 plants, and is often so strongly develop- 

 ed as to permit of rock cleavage and the 

 withdrawal of food supplies from great 

 depths. 



The coconut has no such provision for 

 its support. Its subterranean parts are 

 simply a mat-like expanse of thick, 

 fleshy, worm-like growths, devoid of any 

 feeders other than those provided at the 

 extreme tips of the relatively few roots. 

 These roots are fleshy (not fibrous) and 

 can not thrive in any soil through which 

 they may not grow freely in search of 

 sustenance. It then becomes obvious 

 that stiff, tenacious, or waxy soils, how- 

 ever rich, are wholly unsuitable. All 

 very heavy lands, or those that break 

 up into solid, impervious lumps, and 

 lastly, any land underlaid near the sur- 



face with bed rocks or impervious clays 

 or conglomerates, are naturally exclud- 

 ed. All other soils, susceptible of proper 

 drainage, may be considered appropriate 

 to the growth of the palm. Spons (En- 

 cyclop.) advocates light, sandy soils. 

 Simmonds (Trop, Agric.) names nine 

 different varieties suitable for this pur- 

 pose, describing each at tedious length, 

 and laying more or less emphasis upon a 

 sandy mixture. These might all have 

 been covered by the single word " per- 

 meable." 



As a matter of fact every grain of 

 sand in excess of that required to secure 

 a condition of perfect premeability is a 

 positive disadvantage and must be paid 

 for by a correspondingly larger area of 

 cultivation and by future soil amend- 

 ment. For the rest, the richer and 

 deeper the soil the less the expense of 

 maintaining soil fertility. 



The preparatory work of establishing 

 an orchard is light, provided the location 

 is not one demanding the opening of 

 drainage canals, aud on lands of good 

 porosity it involves neither subsoiling 

 nor a deeper plowing than to effectually 

 cover the sod or any minor weed 

 growths with which it may be covered. 



It has long been the reprehensible 

 practice of coconut growers to merely 

 dig pits, manure them, set the plants 

 therein, and permit intervening lands 

 (except immediately about the trees) to 

 run to weeds or jungle. 



In the Philippines the native planter 

 has not yet progressed beyond the pit 

 stage, nor do his subsequent cultural 

 activities include more than the occa- 

 sional "boloing" of such weeds as 

 threaten to choke and exterminate the 

 young plants. 



Fortunately it will not be long till the 

 force and influence of example are sure 

 to be felt by our own planters. The 

 progressive German colonist of Kame- 

 ruu, German East Africa, and the South 

 Pacific Islands, as well as the French in 

 Congo and Madagascar, are vigorously 

 practising conventional, modern orchard 

 methods in the treatment of their coco- 

 nut groves, and it is amazing to read of 

 discussions between Ceylon and Indian 

 nut growers as to the best method of 

 tethering cattle upon coconut palms in 

 pasture, so as to obtain the most benefit 

 from their excreta. 



With an intelligent study of the plant 

 and its characteristics it is believed that 

 our native planter may put into prac- 

 tical use the knowledge that the veteran 

 Indian planter has in fifty years failed 

 to learn or utilize. He will learn that in 

 time the entire superficies of his orchard 



