1 Jan., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 55 
of Queensland are so fond of the nuts that when a stray one effects 
a {landing it is seized at once and devoured. This theory, however, hardly 
seems the correct one, for, as has been hinted, the outlying islands of Torres 
Straits are almost bare in this particular, and the Australian aboriginal rarely 
ventures so far away from the mainland—his ships are not built for long 
yoyages. Whatever may be the cause—it is a fact—Australia is not the pre- 
sent home of the cocoanut. The object of this article is to endeavour to 
strengthen the public feeling in its favour. It has been known, not only from the 
isolated specimens growing at intervals on our coast, but from actual trials by 
planting, that the cocoanut will thrive and produce fair quantities of fruit from, 
we will say, Mackay northwards. It is, perhaps, needless to remark on the 
extent of the available coast, a considerable portion of which is suitable for the 
growth of this nut. There are some’ 1,200 miles of coast well within the 
tropics, to say nothing of innumerable islands. Portions of this have been dis- 
posed of by former Governments to form the sites of towns, or they are other- 
wise unsuitable, but there is a vast territory which may be said to be awaiting. 
the cocoanut planter’s attention, The work of Captain Griffiths at Mackay is 
certainly deserving of support. It has been stated, and perhaps there is a 
ground of truth in the remark, that cocoanut planting should have been 
started at some more tropically centered point than the 21st degree of latitude, 
go that the effect of the work would have been more speedy and certain. 
“Cooktown would be, perhaps, a more favourable headquarters for the 
cocoanut planting station. Work could there be prosecuted both to the north 
and the south; the conditions obtaining in the belt of latitude between 15° and 
16° S. is all that could be desired. The port is a frequent calling-place for 
New Guinea and South Sea Island ships, and is right in the track of the mail. 
~ hoats connecting with Java, Ceylon, &c. The steamers of the mail line could 
be easily (it is presumed) engaged to carry quantities from either of the ports 
mentioned, and it is possible that a change of seed, as from the Indian Ocean, 
would be fruitful of advantage in several ways. The planting of cocoanuts in 
groups on the various islands might be arranged in such a manner as to indicate 
their names, so that the system would be of service to navigators in more ways 
than as a means for food. The habitat proper to the cocoanut is within the 
tropics. It has been noted on the windward side of some of the South Sea 
Tslands, where occasionally the roots of the tree were actually washed with salt 
water. It probably has not been determined whether the lee or windward side 
of an island is more favourable to the growth and fruiting of the cocoanut 
palm. Aiong the coast of Queensland the south-east trade winds may roughly 
be said to be prevalent. It is to be presumed, however, that some localities 
will be found to be more suitable than others, at intervals along its length. 
Simmonds tells us that—‘‘Soils suitable for a cocoanut plantation are 
yariously described as below, particularly observing that stony grounds 
or those overlying rocky foundations are to be avoided: — Hirst, soils 
mixed with sand, either dark-coloured or river washed. Second, where 
sand is mixed with clay, ferruginous earth, or black mould. Third, 
clayey soils where the under strata consist ofsand. Fourth, sand and clay, even 
when mixed with gravel and pebbles. Fifth, the seashore, banks of break- 
waters, rivers, tanks, and paddy-fields. Sixth, alluvium of rivers and break- 
waters, provided a yard and a-half of land is to be generally seen above water 
level. Seventh, marshy land, even in brackish soils (but not where salt is 
formed in crystals by evaporation). Highth, all level lands exposed to the sea. 
breeze, where the soil is good, as in the valleys between hills, and at tanks and 
ditches which have been filled up. Ninth, even the floors of ruined houses, 
well worked up, and any place much frequented by cattle and human beings, 
on account of the ashes and salts of ammonia from the urine, &c., deposited 
day by day in the soil.” 
The accumulated breccia from coral reefs, thrown behind the protecting 
sandhills on beaches, mixed as it generally is with a slight proportion of sandy 
soil, forms an excellent compost for the cocoanut. It is often found that 
