Edible Products. 



278 



[May 1907. 



well supplied and its prices are lower than those in Colombo. In South India it seems 

 possible that there would be a market for mangosteens, durians and avocado pears. 



But to Australia, at any rate as far as Melbourne, fruit can be shipped at 

 least during a large part of the year, without cold storage. The three great steamship 

 companies running to Australia quote rates of from Rs. 25 to Rs. 50 per ton of 50 

 cubic feet at shipper's risk. 



This is a high but not a prohibitive rate. It would, for instance, add perhaps 

 5 cents to the cost of a plantain, so that one would have to be sold for a penny, not 

 an excessive rate by any means. The taste for plantains is one that continually 

 grows on the people of the colder zones, and a big trade might perhaps be bnilt up 

 by degrees. The competition to be met would be that of Queensland, but Ceylon 

 with cheaper labour should be able to compete with good chances of success, at least 

 as far as Adelaide. 



These matters are well worthy of careful consideration and perhaps action 

 by Agricultural Societies. 



Coconut Cultivation in the Southern Province. 



By H. Amarasuriya. 

 1. Growth on Different Soils Compared. 



The soils in which the Coconut thrives best are the flat soils along the sea 

 coast where the Coconut palm finds sufficient natural supplies of salt and lime. 

 It has been noticed that on such favoured soils a mature full-grown tree yields 

 as many as 100 nuts on an average without any particular attention being paid to it. 



Next in importance to the soils on the sea-coast are those on either side 

 of the rivers which overflow their banks periodically during the rainy weather. 

 Coconut trees growing on these river banks also give a considerable yield, but 

 slightly less than those along the sea-coast. However, the farther inland the 

 Coconut is grown the less suitable is the land for its cultivation. Plantations on 

 such lands require a large amount of care and systematic cultivation, except those 

 planted within a radius of 20 or 30 fathoms from the boutiques and huts of villages. 



These plantations though of comparatively small acreage thrive invariably 

 well. The reason for this exceptional growth is the care which is unconsciouly 

 bestowed on these trees by the occupants of the respective houses ; for all 

 refuse, dirt, and sweepings which are carelessly huddled round the trees con- 

 tain valuable plantfood eagerly absorbed by the Coconut palms. 



2. The Mode of Planting and Cultivation Required for 

 Soils in the Interior. 

 Further inland the soils are not flat but undulating and hilly, with shrubby 

 jungle growth. As only such lands are at present available for further extension 

 in the Southern Province, I would suggest the following for opening and planting 

 new fields : — 



The jungle should be felled in December and burnt during the first week 

 in the following February. All the burnt matter having been removed, the neces- 

 sary roads should be cut. It should be borne in mind that these roads are to 

 serve for transport at a subsequent stage, when the estate comes into bearing. 



Drains should be cut at a gradient of one foot in twenty feet, to prevent 

 the rich surface soil from washing down. The Coconut holes are then to be cut 

 to the size of 3 ft. x3 ft., being 24 feet apart from each other along square lines, 

 giving 75 to the acre. Before the planting season begins in May the holes should 

 be filled one foot deep with sea-sand, about three basketsf ul to every hole. 



