156 
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH 
CHAPTER seedlings, at twenty feet distance from each other in all directions ; 
for when planted nearer, they do not thrive. The holes are two feet 
June n. deep, and a cubit wide. At the bottom is put sand seven inches 
deep, and on this is placed the nut with the young tree adhering to 
it. Sand is now put in until it rises two inches above the nut, and 
then the hole is filled with earth and a little dung. Every day for 
three years, except when it rains, the young trees must have water. 
While the trees are young, the garden is cultivated for all kinds of 
Tarkari stuffs, which serves for weeding. When they have grown 
up, the ground is ploughed, and cultivated for sugar-cane, betel- 
leaf, Cara Butta rice, Sesamum , Huts' Ella, Tadaguny , Carlay , lies- 
saru , Udu, Huruli , Shamay, Navonay, or Ragy, according as the soil 
is fitted for either of these crops. Mango and jack trees are also 
planted in these gardens, but greatly to their prejudice ; for no cul- 
tivation can be carried on under these trees. 
The coco-nut palm begins to produce when seven or eight years 
old, and lives so long that its period of duration cannot readily be 
ascertained. I was shown some that were said to have been planted 
by Jaccldeva Raya , and the people believe that they will live for a 
thousand years. Young trees, however, produce most fruit, which 
comes forward at all seasons of the year. A 'good tree gives an- 
nually a hundred nuts. A few are cut green on account of the 
juice, which is used as drink; but by far the greater part are allowed 
to arrive at some degree of maturity, although not to full ripeness; 
for then the kernel would become useless. The cultivator in gene- 
ral removes both husk and shell, and sells nothing but the kernel to 
the merchants, as they transport them even so far as to Madras . 
The kernel of the coco-nut enters much into the food of the 
richer natives, both in its raw state, and dressed after various 
fashions ; and it yields by far the finest oil of India, provided the 
nut is fresh, and the oil used soon after expression. The husks of 
the green coco-nuts are sold to the TVhalliaru for making ropes, 
at the rate of two thousand the Salt any Fanam (about 8^.); but the 
