Sept. 1906,] 



288 



Edible Prod i lets. 



the wall of the nut proper to the surface of the enveloping fibre. In this case the 

 germinating point first shows itself on the side of the coconut, downwards from 

 the point. The issue of the plumule is in this ease much slower ; this is easily- 

 understood on account of the deform ition undergone by the young growing 

 stem and the long way it has to grow from the interior of the raesocarp. 

 Nuts placed in this position, according to the trials of the Madagascar Agricultural 

 Department, gave a smaller percentage of successes than any of the other lour 

 positions. Further, plants of this sort are transported with difficulty, for there 

 is risk of damaging the young stems in placing them side by side in a box or ease, 

 for instance when taking them to the field for plauting. 



The last three positions have given almost identical results. This is under- 

 stood since in the three cases, the growing stem has almost the same passage to 

 make in growing from the kernel. Position No. 3, (nut placed obliquely, point down) 

 which is the most logical as it corresponds with that which the nuts naturally 

 take when they fall to the earth, seems to be the best. The horizontal position and 

 that in which the part next the peduncle is slightly raised, are according to 

 Mons. Keating, who carried out the experiments, the two best. In the horizontal 

 and oblique positions the germinations seem apparently better than those in which 

 the nuts are placed vertically. 



The following table, drawn up by Mons. Keating (Madagascar Agricultural 

 Department) shows the results of his experiments with 250 nuts. 



Nut vertical. 



Nut oblique. 



Nut horizontal. 



Point down. 



Point up. 



Point down. 



Point up. 





Germination 66 % 



48% 



86% 



72 % 



84% 



In Ceylon expenence bears out the results of Mons. Prudhomme's experi- 

 ments. To enquiries made of several coconut planters of long experience in the 

 island, the answer has in nearly every case been the same, viz., in favour of 

 horizontal planting. Mr. Gerald Nicholas, of the well-known Golua Pokuna estate 

 (whom, by the way, Mons. Prudhomme refers to several times in his work) says : — 

 " I am of opinion that the best way to plant seed coconuts in a nursery is to place 

 them horizontally- exactly in the actual position they lie on the ground when they 

 fall from the tree. I should say a somewhat oblique position, with the point or 

 stalk end of the nut upwards, would certainly be preferable to planting it vertically.'' 

 In " The Tropical Agriculturist" April, 1895, Mr. Nicholas gave his reasons for 

 objecting to the vertical position as follows :—" When the capsule at the stalk end 

 drops off, it lays bare a depression in the husk directly above the ' eye ' of the nut 

 through which the young shoot issues. This depression is comparatively a tender 

 spot in the husk and moisture would enter through it more easily than elsewhere. 

 Therefore, if the nuts be placed vertically with only the spaces between them filled 

 with soil, water would be caught in the depression, and, if superabundant as in the 

 long-continued wet weather, the germ woidd be endangered." Mr. A. VV, Beven, 

 of Horekelly, says: — " I have always advocated their being placed in the same 

 position they occupy when they fall from the tree, i e., sideways. I argue that 

 the water in the nut is intended by nature to keep the germ supplied with 

 moisture during the period of germination. If placed in this position, the nursery 

 will to a very great extent be independent of wateriug, as was conclusively 

 proved recently on an estate in the Rajabadalawa district, adjoining Toynbee. 

 During a period of drought no water was available for the nursery within half a 

 mile, yet almost every seed nut grew. Besides, it sometimes becomes necessary 



