( 10 ) 
the roots to rot. When the beds are ready, the seed 
nuts should be partly buried in rows about two feet 
apart in an oblique position, with the acute end of 
the nut downwards. The seed beds are shaded for 
a time, but the shade should be gradually removed 
and the plant fully exposed before it is ready for 
planting in the field. The best age at which to 
remove seedlings from the nursery for transplanting 
in the field is from five to seven months. If left 
in the nursery longer, the difficulty of transplanting 
is greater and the roots are liable to get damaged. 
After felling and burning operations are finished, 
the land is thoroughly cleaned and prepared for 
planting. The best distance of planting in the field 
is 30 ft. x 30 ft. square, which gives 48 trees per 
acre. The area should be carefully lined and rolled 
ready for planting. The holes, which are usually 
made two feet wide and two feet deep, are filled up 
with good surface soil and the seedling planted so 
that the top of the nut, where it starts to germinate, 
is just above the level of the ground. Deep planting 
should be avoided. 
The most critical time for the palm is during the 
early stages of its life, that is, from time of planting 
to the third or fourth year; it is only by careful 
attention during this period that early maturing 
and good bearing palms are likely to result. After 
planting, the ground around the young palms should 
be clean weeded, and no grass or other weeds should 
be allowed to interfere with their growth. To de- 
velop the feeding roots, the surface soil at the base 
of the palm should be kept in a friable condition by 
digging or forking at least once every three or four 
months. 
