Am.  Jour,  Pharm. ) 
November,  1895.  / 
Cultivation  of  the  Coco-Nut. 
58i 
as  they  become  larger,  they  form  six-sided  plates.  These  polarize 
most  beautifully  in  bright  colors.  Aromadendrin  crystallizes  from 
boiling  water  in  plates.  Ether  dissolves  it,  although  not  readily  ; 
the  ethereal  solution  dries  into  an  almost  amorphous  substance. 
Alcohol  dissolves  it  easily. 
One  determination  was  made  of  the  melting  point ;  it  was  found 
that  the  crystals  melted  on  the  surface  of  mercury  at  1620  C. 
Its  color  reactions  are  as  follows,  and  from  the  results  at  present 
obtained  it  appears  that  the  characteristic  color  reaction  previously 
given  to  ellagic  acid,  of  forming  a  crimson  color  with  fuming  nitric 
acid,  will  have  to  be  modified,  as  the  body  of  which  we  now  write 
gives  this  crimson  reaction  most  beautifully  clear  and  pure,  not  only 
with  fuming  nitric  acid,  but  with  nitric  acid  even  when  slightly 
diluted.  Potassium  hydrate  gives  a  bright  yellow  color,  which  is 
permanent  in  the  air  even  until  it  is  dried  up.  Sulphuric  acid  dis- 
solves it  yellow,  becoming  brown  on  standing.  Ferric  chloride  so- 
lution has  but  little  color  reaction  with  the  crystals  of  aromadendrin. 
The  distinctive  color  reactions  given  by  eudesmin  and  aromaden- 
drin serve  at  once  to  distinguish  them  in  the  absence  of  any  deter, 
minations  of  crystalline  form. 
The  chemistry  of  the  substance  causing  the  turbidity  in  the  kino 
of  Angophora  lanceolata  will  form  the  subject  of  a  later  communica- 
tion. We  have  succeeded  in  isolating  a  few  well-developed  crystals 
of  the  body. 
CULTIVATION  OF  THE  COCO-NUT.1  ^ 
Soil  and  Climate. — A  moist,  tropical  climate,  with  good  and  some- 
what sandy  soil,  near  the  sea,  is  the  best  for  the  growth  of  the  coco- 
nut palm.  If  the  tide  rises  so  that  the  sea  may  flow  in  daily  over 
the  plantation,  so  much  the  better,  but  drains  must  then  be  made, 
so  as  to  allow  the  water  to  run  off  freely. 
Sowing. — Ripe,  dry  nuts  only  should  be  used,  and  the  very 
largest  that  can  be  obtained.  Nuts  for  seed  should  be  gathered 
from  trees  that  are  mature,  but  not  too  old,  and  kept  dry  for  five  or 
six  weeks  before  planting.  The  nursery  bed  should  be  made  under 
slight  shade,  such  as  that  of  the  coco-nut  palm  ;  it  should  be  thor- 
oughly dug  to  a  depth  of  two  feet,  and  the  soil  well  mixed  up  with 
1  From  the  Bulletin  of  the  Botanical  Department,  Jamaica,  2,  182. 
