,bureau of ,agriculture4                
,farmer's ,bulletin ,no4 #h4            
,,the ,,cocoanut                 ,with  
,reference to ,its ,products and        
,cultivation                            
in the ,philippines4                    
,by                                     
,,william ,s4 ,,lyon1                   
,in charge of ,division of ,plant       
,industry4                              
,manila3                         ,bureau
 of ,public ,printing4                  
#aijc4            ,,contents4           
,page4        ,letter of transmittal    
#d      ,introduction                   
#e      ,history                        
#e      ,botany                         
#f      ,uses                           
#f          ,copra and cocoanut oil     
#f          ,coir                       
#aj          ,tuba                      
#ab          ,minor uses                
#ac      ,cultivation                   
#ad          ,selection of location     
#ad          ,the soil                  

#af          ,seed selection            
#ag          ,planting                  
#ah          ,manuring                  
#ba          ,irrigation                
#bg      ,harvest                       
#bh      ,enemies                       
#bh      ,remedies                      
#bi      ,renovation of old groves      
#cj      ,conclusion                    
#cj            ,,letter ,,of            
,,transmittal4      ,bureau of          
,agriculture1                           
,manila1 ,june #a1 #aijc4    ,sir3 ,in  
responding to numerous inquiries about  
the cocoanut1 its  uses1 cultivation1   
and preparation for market1 ,i have     
prepared1  by your direction1 the       
accompanying bulletin1 which is intended
 to  cover the general field of the     
inquiries addressed to this ,bureau1    
and herewith submit the same1 with the  
recommendation that it be  published as 
,farmers' ,bulletin ,no4 #h4            
,respectfully1            ,wm4 ,s4      
,lyon1          ,in ,charge of ,division

 of ,plant ,industry4                ,to
 ,hon4 ,f4 ,lamson-,scribner1           
,chief ,bureau of ,agriculture1 ,manila4
            ,,the ,,cocoanut4           
,,introduction4      ,the following     
pages are written chiefly in the        
interests of the  planter1 but the      
writer feels that the great agricultural
 importance  which the cocoanut palm is 
bound to assume in these ,islands is    
sufficient to justify the presentation  
of some of its history and  botany4     
,for that part of the bulletin which    
touches upon the botany of the  cocoanut
 ,i am indebted to ,don ,regino ,garcia1
 associate botanist of the  ,forestry   
,bureau2 for that relating to its       
products and local uses1 to  the        
courtesy of manufacturers in ,laguna2   
and1 for the rest1 to personal          
experience and observations made in     
,laguna ,province and in the southern   
,visayan ,islands where1 as elsewhere in
 this ,archipelago1 the cocoanut  may   
properly be considered a spontaneous and

 not a cultivated product4              
,,history4      ,the legendary history  
of the ,prince of ,palms1 #a as it has  
been  called1 dates back to a period    
when the ,christian era was young1  and 
its history is developing day by day in 
some new and striking  manifestation of 
its utility or beauty4 ,it seems not    
unreasonable to  assume that much of the
 earlier traditionary history of the    
cocoanut  may have been inspired as much
 by its inherent beauty as by its  uses4
 ,such traditional proverbs ,or folklore
 as ,i have gathered in  the ,visayas   
recognize the influence of the          
beautiful1 in so far as  the blessings  
of the trees only inure to the good2 for
 instance1  ,he who is cruel to his     
beast or his family will only harvest   
barren  husks from the reproving trees  
that witness the pusillanimous act2     
and1 again1 ,he who grinds the poor will
 only grind water instead of  fat oil   
from the meat4    ,to this day the      
origin of the cocoanut is unknown4 ,de  

,candolle 7,origin  of ,cult4 ,plants1  
p4 #egd7 recites twelve specific claims 
pointing to  an ,asiatic origin1 and a  
single1 but from a scientific standpoint
  almost unanswerable1 contention for an
 ,american derivation4 ,none of  the    
remaining nineteen species of the genus 
,cocos are known to exist  elsewhere in 
the world than on the ,american         
continent4 ,his review of  the story    
results in the nature of a compromise1  
assigning to our  own ,islands and those
 to the south and west of us the        
distinction  of having first given birth
 to the cocoanut1 and that thence it was
  disseminated east and west by ocean   
currents4            ,,botany4      ,the
 cocoanut 7,cocos nucifera ,linn47 is   
the sole oriental representative  of a  
tropical genus comprising nineteen      
species1 restricted1 with  this single  
exception1 to the ,new ,world4    ,its  
geographical distribution is closely    
confined to the two  ,tropics4 #b       
,not less than nineteen varieties of ,c4

 nucifera are described by  ,miquel and 
,rumphius1 and all are accepted by      
,filipino authors4    ,whether all of   
these varieties are constant enough to  
deserve  recognition need not be        
considered here4 ,many are characterized
 by  the fruits being distinctly        
globular1 others by fruits of a much    
prolonged oval form1 still others by    
having the lower end of the  fruit      
terminating in a triangular point4      
,in the ,visayas there is a variety in  
which the fibrous outer husk  of the nut
 is sweet and watery1 instead of dry and
 astringent1 and  is chewed by the      
natives like sugar cane4 ,another       
variety occurs in  ,luzon1 known as     
,pamocol1 the fruit of which seldom     
exceeds #bj cm4 in  diameter4 ,there is 
also a dwarf variety of the palm1 which 
rarely  exceeds #c meters in height1 and
 is known to the ,tagalogs as ,adiavan4 
,these different varieties are strongly 
marked1 and maintain their  characters  
when reproduced from seed4              

,,uses4      ,the cocoanut furnishes two
 distinct commercial products--the dried
  meat of the nut1 or copra1 and the    
outer fibrous husk4 ,these products  are
 so dissimilar that they should be      
considered separately4        ,,copra   
,,and ,,cocoanut ,,oil4    ,until very  
recent years the demand for the meat of 
the cocoanut  or its products was       
limited to the uses of soap boilers and 
confectioners4 ,probably there is no    
other plant in the vegetable  kingdom   
which serves so many and so varied      
purposes in the domestic  economy of the
 peoples in whose countries it grows4   
,within the past  decade chemical       
science has produced from the cocoanut a
 series of  food products whose         
manufacture has revolutionized industry 
and placed  the business of the         
manufacturer and of the producer upon a 
plane of  prosperity never before       
enjoyed4    ,there has also been a great
 advance in the processes by which the  
new oil derivatives are manufactured4   

,the ,united ,states took the           
initiative with the first recorded      
commercial factories in #ahie4 ,in      
#ahig the ,germans established factories
 in ,mannheim1 but it remained  for the 
,french people to bring the industry to 
its present perfection4    ,according to
 the latest reports of the ,american    
consul at ,marseilles1  the conversion  
of cocoanut oil into dietetic compounds 
was undertaken  in that city in #aijj1  
by ,messrs4 ,rocca1 ,tassy and de ,roux1
 who in  that year turned out an average
 of #be tons per month4 ,during the year
  just closed 7#aijb7 their average     
monthly output exceeded #f1jjj tons     
and1 in addition to this1 four or five  
other large factories were  all working 
together to meet the world's demand for 
vegetaline1  cocoaline1 or other        
products with suggestive names1         
belonging to  this infant industry4     
,these articles are sold at gross price 
of #ah to #bj cents per kilo to  thrifty
 ,hollandish and ,danish merchants1 who1

 at the added cost of a  cent or two1   
repack them in tins branded ,dairy      
,butter and1 as such1  ship them to all 
parts of the civilized world4 ,it was   
necessary to  disguise the earlier      
products by subjecting them to          
trituration with  milk or cream2 but so 
perfect is the present emulsion that the
 plain  and unadulterated fats now find 
as ready a market as butter4 ,these     
butters have so far found their readiest
 sale in the ,tropics4    ,the          
significance of these great discoveries 
to the cocoanut planter can  not be     
overestimated1 for to none of these     
purely vegetable fats do the  prejudices
 attach that so long and seriously have 
handicapped those  derived from animal  
margarin or margarin in combination with
 stearic  acid1 while the low fusion    
point of pure dairy butters necessarily 
prohibits their use in the ,tropics1    
outside of points equipped with         
refrigerating plants4 ,the field1       
therefore1 is practically without       

competition1 and the question will no   
longer be that of finding a  market1 but
 of procuring the millions of tons of   
copra or oil that  this one industry    
will annually absorb in the immediate   
future4    ,cocoanut oil was once used  
extensively in the manufacture of fine  
candles1 and is still occasionally in   
demand for this purpose in the          
,philippines1 in combination with the   
vegetable tallow of a species  of       
,stillingia4 ,it is largely consumed in 
lamps1 made of a tumbler or  drinking   
glass half filled with water1 on top of 
which float a few  spoonfuls of oil1    
into which the wick is plunged4 ,in     
remote barrios it  is still in general  
use as a street illuminant1 and so      
perfect is its  combustion that under a 
constant flicker it emits little or no  
smoke4    ,when freshly expressed1 the  
oil is an exceptionally good cooking    
fat1  and enters largely into the       
dietary of our own people4 ,the         
medicinal  uses of the oil are various1 

and in the past it has been strongly    
advocated for the cure of eczema1 burns1
 as a vermifuge1 and even  as a         
substitute for cod-liver oil in         
phthisis4 ,its medicinal virtues  are   
now generally discredited1 except as a  
restorative agent in the  loss of hair  
resulting from debilitating fevers4 ,its
 value in this  direction may be        
surmised from the splendid heads of hair
 possessed  by the ,filipino women1 who 
generally use the oil as a hair         
dressing4    ,cocoanut oil is derived   
from the fleshy albumen or meat of the  
ripe  fruit1 either fresh or dried4 ,the
 thoroughly dried meat is variously     
known as copra1 coprax1 and copraz4 ,the
 exportation of copra is  detrimental to
 the best interests of the planter1     
tending to enrich  the manufacturer and 
impoverish the grower4 ,the practice1   
however1  is so firmly established that 
the writer can only record a probably   
futile protest against its continuance4 
,the causes which for a long time will  

favor the exportation of copra  instead 
of oil in this ,archipelago may be      
briefly stated as follows3    7#a7 ,an  
oil-milling plant1 constructed with due 
regard to economy of  labor and the     
production of the best quality of oil1  
would involve  an outlay of capital of  
#b1ejj1 gold1 and upward1 according to  
capacity4 ,the production of copra      
requires the labor of the planter's     
hands only4    7#b7 ,the oil packages   
must be well-made barrels1 casks1 or    
metallic  receptacles4 ,the initial cost
 of the packages is consequently great1 
their return from distant ports         
impracticable1 and their sale value  in 
the market of delivery is not sufficient
 to offset the capital  locked up in an 
unproductive form4 ,on the other hand1  
copra may be  sold or shipped in boxes1 
bags1 sacks1 and bales1 or it may even  
be  stored in bulk in the ship's hold4  
7#c7 ,when land transportation has to be
 considered1 the lack of good  roads    
still further impedes the oil maker4 ,he

 can not change the  size and weight of 
his packages from day to day to meet the
 varying  passability of the trail4 ,on 
the other hand1 packages of copra may   
be adjusted to meet all emergencies1 and
 the planter can thus take  advantage of
 the market conditions which may be     
denied to the oil  maker4    7#d7       
,perhaps the most serious difficulty the
 oil maker has to contend  with is the  
continuous discouragement he encounters 
from the agent  of foreign factories1   
who buys in the open market and1 bidding
 up to  nearly the full oil value of the
 copra1 finds an ample manufacturer's   
profit paid by the press cake1 so       
valuable abroad1 but1 unfortunately1    
practically without sale or value here4 
,the residue from the mill may  be      
utilized both for food and for manure by
 the oil maker who is a  tree owner and 
who maintains cattle4 ,for either of    
these purposes  its value rates closely 
up to cotton-seed cake1 and the time is 
not remote when it will be recognized in

 the ,philippines as far  too valuable a
 product to be permitted to be removed  
from the farm  excepting at a price     
which will permit of the purchase at a  
less  figure of an equivalent in manure4
 ,so active are the copra-buying  agents
 in controlling this important branch of
 the industry1 that  they refuse to buy 
the press cake at any price1 with the   
result that1  in two instances known to 
the writer1 they have forced the closure
  of oil-milling plants and driven the  
oil maker back to his copra4    ,many   
copra-making plants in ,india and       
,ceylon are now supplied with           
decorticating1 breaking1 and evaporating
 machinery4 ,the process  employed in   
this ,archipelago consists in first     
stripping the ripe  fruit of the outer  
fibrous husk4 ,this is effected by means
 of a stout1  steel spearhead1 whose    
shaft or shank is embedded firmly in the
 soil  to such a depth that the spear   
point projects above the ground rather  
less than waist high4 ,the operator then

 holds the nut in his hands  and strikes
 it upon the spear point1 gives it a    
downward1 rotary  twist1 and thus1 with 
apparent ease1 quickly removes the husk4
 ,an  average operator will husk #a1jjj 
nuts per day1 and records have been     
made of a clean up of as many as #c1jjj 
per day4 ,the work1 however1  is        
exceedingly hard1 and involves great    
dexterity and wrist strength4           
,another man now takes up the nut and   
with a bolo strikes it a smart  blow in 
the middle1 dividing it into two almost 
equal parts4 ,these  parts are spread   
out and exposed to the sun for a few    
hours1 or such  time as may be necessary
 to cause the fleshy albumen to contract
 and  shrink away from the hard outer   
shell1 so that the meat may be easily   
detached with the fingers4    ,weather  
permitting1 the meat thus secured is sun
 dried for a day  and then subjected to 
the heat of a slow fire for several     
hours4 ,in  some countries this drying  
is now effected by hot-air driers1 and a

  very white and valuable product       
secured2 but in the ,philippines the    
universal practice is to spread out the 
copra upon what may be called  a bamboo 
grill1 over a smoky fire made of the    
shells and husks1 just  sufficient heat 
being maintained not to set fire to the 
bamboo4 ,the  halves1 when dried1 are   
broken by hand into still smaller       
irregular  fragments1 and subjected to  
one or two days of sun bath4 ,by this   
time  the moisture has been so          
thoroughly expelled that the copra is   
now  ready to be sacked or baled and    
stored away for shipment or use4    ,all
 modern cocoanut-oil mills are supplied 
with a decorticator armed  with         
revolving discs that tear or cut through
 the husk longitudinally1  freeing the  
nut from its outer covering and leaving 
the latter in  the best possible        
condition for the subsequent extraction 
of its  fiber4 ,this decorticator is fed
 from a hopper and is made of a size    
and capacity to husk from #ejj to #a1jjj

 nuts per hour4    ,rasping and grinding
 machinery of many patterns and makes1  
for  reducing the meat to a pulp1 is    
used in ,india1 ,ceylon1 and ,china2    
and1 although far more expeditious1     
offers no improvements1 so far  as      
concerns the condition to which the     
meats are reduced1 over the  methods    
followed in the ,philippines4 ,here the 
fleshy halves of the  meat are held by  
hand against a rapidly revolving1       
half-spherical  knife blade which       
scrapes and shaves the flesh down to a  
fine degree  of comminution4 ,the       
resulting mass is then macerated in a   
little water  and placed in bags and    
subjected to pressure1 and the milky    
juice which  flows therefrom is         
collected in receivers placed below4    
,this is now  drawn off into boilers and
 cooked until the clear oil is          
concentrated  upon the surface4 ,the oil
 is then skimmed off and is ready for   
market4    ,the process outlined above  
is very wasteful4 ,the processes ,i have

 seen  in operation are very inadequate1
 and ,i estimate that1 not less than    
#aj per cent of the oil goes to loss in 
the press cake4 ,this is a loss  that   
does not occur in establishments        
equipped with the best hydraulic        
presses4 ,it is true that very heavy    
pressure carries through much  coloring 
matter not withdrawn by the primitive   
native mill1 and that  the oil is       
consequently darker1 and sooner         
undergoes decomposition2  but modern    
mills are now supplied with filtration  
plants through  which this objection is 
practically overcome4    ,the principles
 of the above process are daily         
reproduced in thousands  of ,filipino   
homes1 where the hand rasping of the    
nut1 the expression  of the milky juice 
through coarse cloth1 its subsequent    
boiling down  in an open pan1 and the   
final skimming off of the oil are in    
common  practice4 ,notwithstanding the  
cheapness of labor1 it is only by       
employing a mill well equipped with     

decorticating1 rasping1 hydraulic       
crushing1 and steam-boiling machinery1  
and with facilities to convert  the     
residue to feeding or other uses1 that  
one may hopefully enter  the field of   
oil manufacture in these ,islands in    
competition with  copra buyers4         
,,coir4    ,the fiber of the cocoanut   
husk1 or coir1 as it is commercially    
known1  has never yet been utilized in  
this ,archipelago1 excepting            
occasionally  for local consumption4    
,second in value only to the copra1 this
 product has been allowed to  go to     
waste4 ,the rejected husks are thrown   
together in immense heaps1  which are   
finally burned and the ashes1           
exceedingly rich in potash  and         
phosphoric acid1 are left to blow away4 
,as the commercial value of the fiber is
 greater than the manurial  value of the
 salts therein1 it is economy to utilize
 the fiber and  purchase potash and     
phosphoric acid when needed to enrich   
the soil4    ,highly improved and       

inexpensive power machinery for the     
complete and  easy extraction of the    
fibers of the husk1 either wet or dry1  
is now  rapidly superseding the tedious 
hand process once in such general  use4 
,good patterns of machinery are shown in
 the husk-crushing mill  7fig4 #a7 and  
in the fiber extractor 7fig4 #b74 ,the  
first breaks1  crushes1 and flattens out
 the husks by means of powerful1 fluted 
metal  rollers and1 in the second the   
broken husks are fed over a revolving   
drum set with teeth especially devised  
for tearing out the fiber from  the     
entire mass4 ,finally1 it is fed into   
one of the many forms of  willowing     
machines1 which reduces the mass to     
clean fiber1 which  is now ready for    
grading1 baling1 and shipment4 ,the     
residual dust  and waste from this      
operation may be used as an absorbent   
for liquid  manures1 and ultimately     
returned to the plantation4 ,the yield  
of fiber  varies from #ab to #be        
quintals of coir and #d to #g quintals  

of brush  fiber per #aj1jjj average     
husks4 ,in the ,philippines the nuts    
yield  a large amount of fiber and a    
relatively small percentage of chaff    
and dust4 ,with improved machinery and  
careful handling1 #ah quintals  of      
spinning coir and #e quintals of bristle
 fiber from every #aj1jjj  husks is a   
fair estimate of the product4    ,as the
 cost of manufacture is generally rated 
at one-half the selling  price1 and as  
we must add a further charge of #bj per 
cent to cover  freight and commission1  
we have resulting from the sale of the  
#bc  quintals1 or #b1cjj kilos1 at #af  
per ,english ton1 a balance of #aa      
#aas4 per hectare4    ,but there are    
other considerations which should not be
 overlooked4 ,the  husks of #aj1jjj     
cocoanuts will withdraw from the land   
#fa4e kilos of  potash and #c kilos of  
phosphoric acid1 and the restoration of 
the full  amount is called for to       
compensate for the growing wants of the 
tree1  in addition to that withdrawn by 

the crop4 ,the necessary fertilizers    
are worth1 approximately1 #e #a_/b;d4   
per kilo1 making a further reduction  of
 #a #hs4 and leaving as a net profit #aj
 #cs41 or1 reduced to ,american  money1 
nearly #ej1 gold1 per hectare4    ,the  
machines above referred to will cost    
#hjj1 gold1 and #a1bjj  additional will 
purchase and house the power necessary  
to operate  them4 ,such a plant will    
work up #a1jjj nuts a day1 and handle in
 a  year the output of a grove of #cj   
hectares4 ,with the addition of two  or 
more fiber extractors the capacity of   
the plant may be doubled  without       
material expense1 and it should rather  
more than pay its  entire cost in one   
year4        ,,tuba4    ,tuba is the    
fresh or mildly fermented sap drawn from
 the inflorescence  of the cocoanut4    
,there are no figures or data of any    
kind available as a basis for an        
estimate as to the importance of this   
product1 but its extent may be  inferred
 from the fact that the outlying groves 

about ,cebu1 ,iloilo1  and the larger   
,visayan towns are practically devoted  
to the production  of tuba1 and not to  
the manufacture of copra4    ,tuba is   
collected from the unexpanded blossoms  
as soon as they have  fairly pushed     
through the subtending bracts4 ,to      
prevent any lateral  expansion1 the     
flowers are tied with strips of the     
green leaf blade  and then1 with a sharp
 knife1 an inch or two of the extreme   
tip is  removed4 ,the whole flower      
cluster is now gently pulled forward    
until  it arches downward4 ,in a day or 
two the sap begins to drip and is then  
caught in a short joint of bamboo1      
properly secured for the purpose4    ,as
 a healthy tree develops at least one or
 more flowering racemes  every month1   
and the flow of sap extends frequently  
over a period of  two or more months1 it
 is not uncommon to see a number of     
tubes in  use upon one tree4    ,the    
workmen usually visits the tree twice   
daily to collect the  liquor drawn      

during the preceding twelve hours in the
 larger tube1  which he carries upon his
 back4 ,he slices daily a thin shaving  
from  the tip of the flower1 in order   
that the wound may be kept open and     
bleeding4 ,this process is kept up until
 nearly all of the flower  cluster has  
been cut away1 or until the sap ceases  
to flow4    ,more than a liter a day is 
sometimes drawn from one tree1 and #e   
hectoliters is considered a fair annual 
average from a good bearing  tree4      
,in its fresh state tuba has a sweetish1
 slightly astringent taste2  but1 as the
 vessels in which it is collected are   
rarely cleansed1  they become traps for 
many varieties of insects1 etc41 and it 
is1  therefore1 not a very acceptable   
beverage to a delicate stomach4 ,when   
purified by a mild fermentation it is   
far more palatable4    ,a secondary     
fermentation of tuba results in vinegar1
 and on this  account1 chiefly1 so much 
space has been devoted to this feature  
of  the industry4 ,the vinegar so       

produced is of good strength and color1 
of  the highest keeping qualities1 and  
of unrivaled flavor4 ,its excellence  is
 so pronounced that upon its inherent   
merits it would readily find  sale in   
the world's markets2 and1 although the  
local demand for the  tuba now exceeds  
the production1 its conversion into     
vinegar will  probably prove the more   
profitable industry in the future4      
,spirits are distilled and in some      
places sugar is still made from the     
flower sap2 and1 while the importance of
 these great staples may not  be        
overlooked1 their commercial value as   
products of this tree are  relatively   
insignificant4        ,,minor ,,uses4   
,in addition to eighty-three utilities  
described by ,mr4 ,pereira1  #c it is in
 very common use in the ,philippines    
for3    #a4 ,cocoanut cream4 ,the       
freshly ground fruit1 reduced to a pulp 
and  strained1 is consumed in that form 
or made into cakes with rice4 ,it  makes
 a delicious and nutritious food4       

,according to ,dr4 ,w4 ,j4 ,gies1  in   
experiments lately published1 #d its    
nutritive value is due to  #ce4d per    
cent of oil1 about #aj per cent of      
carbohydrates1 and #c per  cent of      
protein4 ,the amount of cellulose       
7fibrous matter7 is only #c  per cent1  
and its digestibility is easy when the  
mass1 by grating1  is reduced to a fine 
degree of comminution4    #b4 ,the milk 
or water is used sparingly as a         
beverage4 ,it is also  fermented and    
converted into inferior vinegar4    #c4 
,the hard shell is used as fuel4 ,when  
calcined1 it produces a black1  lustrous
 substance1 used for dyeing leather4    
#d4 ,the same shell1 aside from many    
uses quoted by ,pereira1 is used  here  
for every conceivable form of cup1      
ladle1 scoop1 and spoon4    #e4 ,from   
the tough midrib of the leaf1 strong and
 beautiful baskets of  many designs are 
made1 also excellent and durable brooms1
 and from  the part where the midrib    
coalesces with the petiole pot-cleaning 

brushes are made4    #f4 ,the roots are 
sometimes used for chewing1 as a        
substitute for  ,areca4 ,they also      
furnish red dyestuff and with one end   
finely  subdivided may be used in making
 toothbrushes4    #g4 ,the leaves and   
midribs1 when burned1 furnish an ash so 
rich in  potash that it may be used     
alone in water as a substitute for soap 
or when a powerful detergent is         
required4    #h4 ,the fiber of the husk 
is used extensively by the natives for  
calking boats4    #i4 ,the milk is used 
in the preparation of a native dish of  
rice1  known as casi4 ,it is an         
excellent and highly prized dietary     
article1  prepared with rice or in      
combination with chicken or locusts4    
#aj4 ,the oil1 melted with resins1 is an
 effective and lasting covering  for    
anything desired to be protected from   
the ravages of white ants4    #aa4 ,the 
timber is used to bridge streams and bog
 holes1 and the slowly  decaying leaves 
to fill them up and render them         

temporarily passable4    #ab4 ,the fiber
 is used in cordage and rope making1 but
 to a far less  extent here than in     
,india4    ,its further uses are1 in    
general1 those current in the ,orient4  
,briefly  summed up1 its timber is      
employed in every form of house         
construction2  its foliage in making    
mats1 sacks1 and thatches2 its fruit in 
curry  and sweetmeats2 its oil for      
medicine1 cookery1 and illumination2    
its various juices in the manufacture of
 wines1 spirits1 sugar1 and  vinegar2   
while not to overlook a final and not   
inconsiderable ,filipino  product1 the  
splinters of the midrib are used in     
making toothpicks4                      
,,cultivation4      ,,selection ,,of    
,,location4    ,in the selection of a   
site for a cocoanut grove it is best to 
select  land near the seashore and not  
extending inland more than #b or #c     
miles4 ,within this narrow zone there is
 commonly a deposit of rich1  permeable1
 well-drained alluvium offering soil    

conditions of far  greater importance to
 successful tree growth than the mere   
exposure  to marine influences4 ,the    
success that has followed cocoanut      
growing  in ,cochin ,china1 remote from 
the seaboard1 in ,annam and up the      
,ganges  basin one hundred or more miles
 from the coast1 and in our own interior
  ,province of ,laguna1 definitely      
proves that immediate contiguity to  the
 sea is not essential to success4       
,that the cocoanut will grow and thrive 
upon the immediate seashore1 in  common 
with other plants1 is simply an         
indication of its adaptability  to      
environment4 ,that it is at a positive  
disadvantage as a shore plant  may be   
determined conclusively by anyone who   
will examine the root  system of a      
seashore-grown tree upturned by a wash  
or tidal wave1 and  one uprooted from   
any cause1 farther inland4 ,it will be  
seen that the  root system of the       
maritime plant is immensely larger than 
the other1  and that a corresponding    

amount of energy has been expended in   
the  search through much inert material 
to forage for the necessary plant  food 
which the more favored inland species   
has found concentrated  within a smaller
 zone4    ,the planting must be made in 
a thoroughly permeable soil4    ,the    
thick1 fleshy roots of the newly        
upturned palm are loaded with  water1   
and tell us that an inexhaustible store 
of this fluid is an  indispensable      
element of success4 ,if further evidence
 of this were  required1 the testimony  
of drooping leaves and of crops shrunken
  from one-half to two-thirds1          
throughout the cocoanut districts and   
upon our own orchard in ,mindanao1 as   
the result of drought1 confirm  it and  
bespeak the necessity of copious water  
at all times4    ,the living tree upon  
the sea sands further emphasizes this   
necessity2  for1 while its roots are    
lapped by the tides1 it never flags or  
wilts1  and from this we may gather the 
added value of a site which can be      

irrigated4 ,the careful observer will   
note that along miles of sea  beach1    
among hundreds of trees whose roots are 
either in actual contact  with the      
incoming waves1 or subjected to the     
subterranean influence of  the sea1     
there will never be so much as one tree 
growing in any beach  basin which       
collects and holds tidal water for even 
a brief time2  and that1 notwithstanding
 the large number of nuts that must have
  found lodgment and favorable          
germinating influence in such places1   
none succeed in growing4 ,from this we  
may derive the assurance that  the      
desired water must be in motion and that
 land near stagnant water1  or marsh    
land1 is unsuitable to the plant4    ,it
 may frequently be observed that trees  
will be found growing  fairly thriftily 
upon mounds or hummocks1 in places      
invaded by  flood or other waters which1
 by reason of backing or damming up1    
have become stagnant4 ,an examination of
 the roots of an overthrown  tree in    

such a locality will show that all of   
those in the submerged  zone have       
perished and rotted away1 but that such 
is the vitality and  recuperative energy
 of the tree that it has thrown out a   
new feeding  system in the dryer soil of
 the mound immediately surrounding the  
stem1  which has been sufficient to     
successfully carry on the functions of  
nutrition1 but altogether ineffective to
 anchor the tree securely1  or to       
prevent its prostration before the first
 heavy gale4    ,while this phase of the
 question will receive more attention   
when  we come to consider the chemistry 
of suitable manures1 it may be  said    
that1 although analysis of the cocoanut 
ash derived from  beach-grown nuts shows
 a larger percentage of those salts that
  abound in sea water than those grown  
inland1 yet the equal vigor1  vitality1 
and fruitfulness of the latter simply   
confirm the plant's  exceptional        
adaptability to environment and ability 
to take up and  decompose1 without      

detriment1 the salts of sea or brackish 
waters4 ,as  a victim to the maritime   
idea1 the writer in #ahhf planted1 far  
inland1  several hundred nuts in beds   
especially devised to reproduce littoral
  conditions2 shore gravel1 sea sand1   
broken shells1 and salt derived  from   
sea water being used in preparing the   
seed beds4 ,the starting  growth was    
unexcelled4 ,then came a long period of 
yellowing decline  and almost suspended 
animation1 ultimately followed by a     
complete  restoration to health and     
vigor4 ,the early excellent growth was  
due to the fact that the first          
nourishment of the plant is entirely    
derived from the endosperm1 and careful 
lifting of the young plants  disclosed  
the fact that recovery from their       
moribund condition was1  in every       
instance1 coincident with the time that 
the roots first  succeeded in working   
through the unpalatable mess about them 
into  the outlying good1 sweet soil4    
,the exposure of the plantation is an   

important consideration1 and  a maritime
 site should be selected in preference  
to one far inland1  unless it be on an  
open1 unprotected flat1 exposed to the  
influence  of every breeze or the       
fiercest gales that blow4    ,the       
structure of the cocoanut seems well    
fitted to endure winds of  almost any   
force1 and that a remarkably abundant   
and strong circulation  of air is       
essential to its best development is    
well shown by comparing  a tree         
subjected to it with the wretched1      
spindling specimen growing  in a        
sheltered glen or ravine4    ,strong    
confirmation of this may be found within
 the artificial  environment of a plant 
conservatory1 where it is feasible to   
reproduce1  in the minute detail of     
soil1 water1 temperature1 and humidity1 
every essential to its welfare except a 
good1 strong breeze4 ,as a  consequence1
 the palm languishes and it has long    
been deemed1 on  this account1 one of   
the most rebellious subjects introduced 

into  palm-house cultivation4           
,,the ,,soil4    ,the soils for cocoanut
 growing are best selected by the       
process of  exclusion4 ,the study of the
 root development of the palm will prove
  to be an unerring guide to proper soil
 selection4    ,the roots of            
monocotyledons1 to which great division 
this palm belongs1  are devoid of the   
well-defined descending axis1 which is  
possessed  by most tree plants1 and is  
often so strongly developed as to permit
  of rock cleavage and the withdrawal of
 food supplies from great depths4       
,the cocoanut has no such provision for 
its support4 ,its subterranean  parts   
are simply a mat-like expanse of thick1 
fleshy1 worm-like  growths1 devoid of   
any feeders other than those provided at
 the  extreme tips of the relatively few
 roots4 ,these roots are fleshy 7not    
fibrous7 and can not thrive in any soil 
through which they may not grow  freely 
in search of sustenance4 ,it then       
becomes obvious that stiff1  tenacious1 

or waxy soils1 however rich1 are wholly 
unsuitable4 ,all  very heavy lands1 or  
those that break up into solid1         
impervious lumps1  and1 lastly1 any land
 underlaid near the surface with bed    
rocks or  impervious clays or           
conglomerates1 are naturally excluded4  
,all other  soils1 susceptible of proper
 drainage1 may be considered appropriate
  to the growth of the palm4 ,spons     
7,encyclop47 advocates light1 sandy     
soils4 ,simmonds 7,trop4 ,agric47 names 
nine different varieties suitable  for  
this purpose1 describing each at tedious
 length1 and laying more  or less       
emphasis upon a sandy mixture4 ,these   
might all have been  covered by the     
single word permeable4    ,as a matter  
of fact every grain of sand in excess of
 that required to  secure a condition of
 perfect permeability is a positive     
disadvantage  and must be paid for by a 
correspondingly larger area of          
cultivation  and by future soil         
amendment4 ,for the rest1 the richer and

 deeper  the soil the less the expense  
of maintaining soil fertility4    ,the  
preparatory work of establishing an     
orchard is light1 provided  the location
 is not one demanding the opening of    
drainage canals1  and on lands of good  
porosity it involves neither subsoiling 
nor a  deeper plowing than to           
effectually cover the sod or any minor  
weed  growths with which it may be      
covered4    ,it has long been the       
reprehensible practice of cocoanut      
growers to  merely dig pits1 manure     
them1 set the plants therein1 and permit
  the intervening lands 7except         
immediately about the trees7 to run to  
weeds or jungle4    ,in the ,philippines
 the native planter has not yet         
progressed beyond  the pit stage1 nor do
 his subsequent cultural activities     
include more  than the occasional       
boloing of such weeds as threaten to    
choke and  exterminate the young plants4
    ,fortunately it will not be long    
till the force and influence of  example

 are sure to be felt by our own         
planters4 ,the progressive  ,german     
colonist of ,kamerun1 ,german ,east     
,africa1 and the ,south  ,pacific       
,islands1 as well as the ,french in     
,congo and ,madagascar1  are vigorously 
practicing conventional1 modern orchard 
methods in  the treatment of their      
cocoanut groves1 and it is amazing to   
read  of discussions between ,ceylon and
 ,indian nut growers as to the best     
method of tethering cattle upon cocoanut
 palms in pasture1 so as to  obtain the 
most benefit from their excreta4        
,with an intelligent study of the plant 
and its characteristics  it is believed 
that our native planter may put into    
practical use  the knowledge that the   
veteran ,indian planter has in fifty    
years  failed to learn or utilize4 ,he  
will learn that in time the entire      
superficies of his orchard will be      
required by the wide-spreading1         
surface-feeding roots of the trees1 and 
that pasture crops of any  kind1 grown  

for any purpose other than soiling or   
for green manuring1  are prejudicial to 
future success4 ,he will know that the  
initial  preparation of all of his      
orchard and its continuous maintenance  
in  good cultivation are essential not  
only to the future welfare of  his trees
 but as a necessary means in connection 
with a judicious  intermediate crop     
rotation4    ,hence the preparatory     
requirements may be summed up as such   
preliminary  soil breaking as would be  
required for a corn crop in similar     
lands1  succeeded by such superficial   
plowings and cultivations as would be   
required to raise a cotton or any other 
of the so-called hoed crops4            
,,seed ,,selection4    ,preliminary to  
planting the very important question of 
seed selection  calls for close scrutiny
 on the planter's part4    ,the small   
native planter is often familiar with   
the individual  characteristics of his  
trees4 ,owners of small estates in      
,cuyos and  about ,zamboanga have       

pointed out to me trees that have the   
constant  fruiting habit confirmed1     
others that will fruit erratically1 and 
others that flower yet rarely bear      
fruit4 ,the fruitfulness of the  first  
class is undoubtedly a result of        
accidental heredity1 for the  planter   
has in the past made no selection except
 by chance1 nor is the  characteristic  
in any way due to his cultural system1  
which consists  in planting the nut and 
letting nature and heredity do the rest4
 ,one  tree in ,zamboanga1 the owner    
assured me1 had never produced less than
  #bjj nuts annually for fully          
twenty-three years4 ,asked as to the    
bearing  of all of his trees 7of which  
he owned some three hundred71 he stated 
that from the lot he averaged #bj nuts  
at a picking1 five times a year1  a     
total of #ajj nuts2 that the crop of    
these was very fluctuating1  some years 
falling to #fj nuts1 again running as   
high as #acj4 ,the  especially prized   
tree did not vary appreciably4 ,in very 

dry seasons  the nuts shrunk somewhat in
 size and the copra in weight1 but the  
yield  of nuts never fell below #bjj1   
and only once had amounted to #bbj4 ,he 
had raised a great number of seedlings1 
but it had never occurred to  him to    
select for planting the nuts from that  
particular tree4        ,,planting4     
,we have pointed out the necessity of   
selecting seed trees of known good      
bearing habits1 and equal care should be
 exercised in selecting those  the nuts 
of which are well formed and uniform4   
,this precaution will  suggest itself   
when one observes that some trees have  
the habit of  producing a few very large
 nuts and many of very small and        
irregular  size and shape1 and it is    
obviously to the planter's interest to  
lend  no assistance to the propagation  
and transmission of such traits4 ,in    
view of what has been previously stated1
 it is almost superfluous  earnestly to 
recommend planters to sow no seeds from 
young trees4 ,the  principle for this   

contention--that no seed should be      
selected except  from trees of          
established1 well-known fruiting        
habits--would seem to  cover the ground 
effectually4    ,the best seed should be
 selected and picked when perfectly     
mature and  lowered to the ground4 ,the 
fall from a lofty tree not infrequently 
cracks the inner shell1 without giving  
any external evidence of the  injury4 ,a
 seed so injured will never sprout and  
therefore is worthless  for seed        
purposes4    ,freshly collected seed    
nuts contain in the husk more moisture  
than  is required to effect germination1
 and if planted in this condition1      
decay is apt to set in before           
germination occurs4 ,to avoid this the  
natives tie them in pairs1 sling them   
over bamboo poles where they are        
exposed to the air but sheltered from   
the sun1 and leave them until  well     
sprouted4 ,it is1 however1 more         
expeditious to pile the nuts up in      
small heaps of eight to ten nuts1 in    

partial shade1 where the surface  nuts  
may be sprinkled occasionally to prevent
 complete drying out4    ,germination is
 very erratic1 sometimes occurring      
within a month  and sometimes extending 
over four1 five1 or more months4 ,when  
the  young shoot or plumule 7see        
illustration7 has fairly thrust its way 
through the fibrous husk it is a good   
practice to go over the heaps  and      
segregate those that have sprouted1     
carefully placing them so  that the     
growing tip be not deformed or distorted
 by the pressure  of superincumbent     
nuts4 ,when these sprouts are #cj to #ej
 cm4 high1  and a few roots have thrust 
through the husk1 they are in the best  
possible condition for permanent        
planting4    ,first4 ,the original      
preparation of the land should be good  
and the  surface tilth at the time of   
planting irreproachable2 i4 e41 free    
from weeds and so mellow that the soil  
can be closely and properly  pressed    
around the roots by hand4    ,second4   

,the orchard should be securely         
protected from the invasion of  cattle1 
etc4 ,it is sometimes impossible to     
protect orchards against  entry of these
 animals4 ,if the success of these      
precautions can not  be assured1 then   
the nuts had better be grown in a       
closely protected  nursery until about a
 year old1 when the albumen of the seed 
will be  completely assimilated and will
 therefore no longer attract vermin1    
and when the larger size of the plant   
will give it more protection  from stray
 cattle4    ,in either case planting    
should be made concurrently with the    
opening of  the rainy monsoon1 during   
which season further field operations   
will  not be required except when an    
intermittent1 drier period indicates    
the advisability of running the         
cultivator4    ,the planting pit fetish1
 in such common use in ,india1 has      
nothing  to commend it4 ,if stable      
manures of any kind are available1 a    
good  application at the time of        

planting will effect wonders in         
accelerating  the growth of the young   
plants4    ,where the necessary         
protection is assured1 the young        
seedling planted  out as above          
recommended should start at once1       
without check of any  kind1 into        
vigorous growth4    ,the nursery-grown  
subject receives an unavoidable setback4
 ,its roots  have been more or less     
mutilated and1 as we may not prune the  
top  sufficiently to compensate for the 
root injury1 it is generally several    
months before the equilibrium of top and
 root is fully restored4 ,in  most      
cases1 by the end of the second year1 it
 will have been far  outstripped in the 
growing race by the former4    ,the     
history1 habits1 and characteristics of 
the cocoanut tree indicate  that it     
needs a full and free exposure to sun1  
air1 and wind2 and1  as it makes a tree1
 under such circumstances1 of wide crown
 expansion1  these indispensables can   
not be secured except by very wide      

planting4    ,conventional              
recommendations cover all distances1    
from #e to #h meters1  with quincunx 7i4
 e41 triangular plantings7 urged when   
the #h-meter  plan is adopted4 ,but the 
writer has seen too many groves spaced  
at  this distance in good soil1 with    
interlacing leaves and badly spindled   
in the desperate struggle for light1    
air1 and sun1 ever to recommend  the    
quincunx1 or any system other than the  
square1 at distances not  less than #i  
meters and1 in good soils1 preferably   
#i4e meters4    ,the former distance    
will allow for #abc and the latter #aaa 
trees to  the hectare4 ,they should be  
lined out with the greatest regularity1 
so  as to admit at all times of cross   
plowing and cultivation as desired4     
,from this time forward the treatment is
 one of cultural and manurial  routine4 
,annual plowings should not be dispensed
 with during the life  of the           
plantation4 ,these plowings may be      
relatively shallow1  sufficient to cover

 under the green manures and crops that 
are made  an indispensable condition to 
the continued profitable conduct of  the
 industry4 ,nothing is to be gained by  
the removal of the earliest  flowering  
spikes4 ,flowering is the congestion of 
sap at a special point  which1 if the   
grower could control it1 he would wish  
to direct1 in the  case of young plants1
 to the building up of leaf and wood4   
,cutting the  inflorescence of the      
cocoanut results in profuse bleeding    
and1 unless  this be checked by the use 
of a powerful styptic or otherwise1 it  
is  doubtful if the desired end would be
 accomplished4 ,the earlier crops  of   
nuts should all be taken with extension 
cutters or from ladders4 ,no  shoulders 
for climbing should be cut in any tree1 
the stem of which  has not become dense1
 hard1 and woody4 ,cut when the wood is 
the least  bit succulent1 they become   
inviting points of attack for borers4   
,with these reservations1 there is      
everything to commend the practice  of  

shouldering the tree1 as offering the   
safest1 most expeditious  and economical
 way of making it possible to climb and 
secure the  harvest4 ,it is1 of course1 
understood that the cuts should be made 
sloping outward1 so as not to collect   
moisture and invite decay1  and no      
larger than is strictly necessary for   
the purpose4        ,,manuring4 #e      
,the manuring problem must be met and   
solved by the best resources at  our    
command4 ,the writer has had pointed out
 hundred of trees that1  wholly         
guiltless of any direct application of  
manure1 have borne  excellent crops for 
many successive years2 but he has also  
seen  hundreds of others in their very  
prime1 at thirty years1 which once      
produced a hundred select nuts per year1
 now producing fluctuating  and         
uncertain crops of fifteen to thirty    
inferior fruits4    ,time and again     
native growers have told me of the large
 and uniformly  continuous crops of nuts
 from the trees immediately             

overshadowing their  dwellings and1     
although some have attributed this to a 
sentimental  appreciation and gratitude 
on the part of the palm at being made   
one  of the family of the owner1 a few  
were sensible enough to realize  that it
 came of the opportunity that those     
particular trees had to  get the        
manurial benefit of the household sewage
 and waste4    ,yet1 the lesson is still
 unlearned and1 after much diligent     
inquiry1  ,i have yet to find a nut     
grower in the ,philippines who at any   
time  7except at planting7 makes direct 
and systematic application of manure  to
 his trees4    ,in ,india1 ,ceylon1 the 
,penang ,peninsula1 and ,cochin ,china1 
where the  tree has been cultivated for 
generations1 the most that was ever     
attempted until very recently was to    
throw a little manure in the  hole where
 the tree was planted1 and for all      
future time to depend  on the inferior1 
grass-made droppings of a few cattle    
tethered among  the trees1 to compensate

 for the half million or more nuts that 
a  hectare of fairly productive trees   
should yield during their normal        
bearing life4    ,upon suitable cocoanut
 soils--i4 e41 those that are light and 
permeable--common salt is positively    
injurious4 ,in support of this          
contention1 ,i will state that salt in  
solution will break up and  freely      
combine with lime1 making equally       
soluble chlorids of lime  which1 of     
course1 freely leach out in such a soil 
and carry down  to unavailable depths   
these salts1 invaluable as necessary    
bases  to render assimilable most plant 
foods2 and that1 on this account1       
commercial manures containing large     
amounts of salt1 are always to  be used 
with much discretion1 owing to the      
danger of impoverishing  the supply of  
necessary lime in the soil4    ,finally1
 so injurious is the direct application 
of salt to the roots  of most plants    
that the invariable custom of trained   
planters 7who1  for the sake of the     

potash contained1 are compelled to use  
crude  ,stassfurt mineral manures1 which
 contain large quantities of common     
salt7 is to apply it a very considerable
 time before the crop is  planted1 in   
order that this deleterious agent should
 be well leached  and washed away from  
the immediate field of root activity4   
,that the cocoanut is able to take up   
large quantities of salt may not  be    
disputed4 ,that the character of its    
root is such as to enable it to  do so  
without the injury that would occur to  
most cultivated plants  ,i have         
previously shown1 while the history of  
the cocoanut's inland  career1 and the  
records of agricultural chemistry1 both 
conclusively  point to the fact that its
 presence is an incident that in no way 
contributes to the health1 vigor1 or    
fruitfulness of the tree4    ,mr4       
,cochran's analysis1 based upon the unit
 of #a1jjj average nuts1  weighing in   
the aggregate #c1abe pounds1 discloses a
 drain upon soil  fertility for that    

number1 amounting in round numbers to-- 
,pounds4        ,nitrogen               
#h #a_/d      ,potash                   
#ag      ,phosphoric acid          #c   
,reducing this to crop and area1 and    
taking #fj fruits per annum per tree  as
 a fair mean for the bearing groves in  
our cocoanut districts and  on those    
rare estates where a systematic spacing 
of about #agc trees  to the hectare has 
been made1 we should have an annual     
harvest of  #aj1cjj nuts1 or1 stated in 
round numbers1 #aj1jjj1 which will      
exhaust  each year from the soil a total
 of--                                   
,pounds4        ,nitrogen               
#hb #a_/b      ,potash                  
#agj      ,phosphoric acid        #cj   
,the cocoanut1 therefore1 while a good  
feeder1 may not be classed with  the    
most depleting of field crops4    ,to   
make this clear ,i exhibit1 by way of   
contrast1 the drafts made  by a         
relatively good crop of two notoriously 
soil-impoverishing  crops--tobacco and  

corn--and1 on the other hand1 the drafts
 made by  an equivalent average cotton  
crop--a product considered to make but  
light drains upon sources of soil       
fertility4    ,a proportionate tobacco  
crop of #a1jjj kilos per hectare will   
withdraw  from the soil 7reduced to the 
same standard of weights adopted by     
,mr4 ,cochran7--                        
,pounds4        ,nitrogen               
#afh      ,potash              #bac     
,phosphoric acid      #bc      ,an      
equivalent crop of shelled corn1 say1 of
 #abe bushels per hectare1  will        
withdraw--                              
,pounds4        ,nitrogen               
#bjj      ,potash              #ace     
,phosphoric acid      #ge      while a  
relative crop of lint cotton of #bcg    
kilos 7#gjj pounds7 per  hectare #f will
 only exhaust1 in round numbers--       
,pounds4        ,nitrogen               
#aad      ,potash               #gj     
,phosphoric acid      #cj      ,there is
 an analogy between these four products 

that makes them  all comparable1 in so  
far as all are largely surface feeders1 
and1  as experience shows that there can
 be no continuing success with  the last
 three that does not include both       
cultivation and manuring1  we may use   
the analogy to infer a like             
indispensable necessity for  the        
successful issue of the first4          
,cultivation as a manurial factor       
should1 therefore1 not be overlooked1   
and all the more strongly does it become
 emphasized by the very  difficulties   
that for some years to come must beset  
the ,philippine  planter in the way of  
procuring direct manures4    ,when it   
comes to the specific application of    
manures and how to make  the most of our
 resources1 we shall have to turn back  
to the analysis  of the nut and note    
that1 relatively to other crops1 it     
makes small  demands for nitrogen4 ,at  
the same time it must not be forgotten  
that  these chemical determinations only
 refer to the fruit and that1  with the 

present incomplete data and lack of     
investigation of the  constituent parts 
of root1 stem1 leaf1 and branch1 we have
 nothing  to guide us but what we may   
infer from the behavior of the plant and
  its relationship to plants of         
long-deferred fruition1 whose manurial  
wants are well understood4    ,it is now
 the most approved orchard practice to  
encourage an early  development of leaf 
and branch by the liberal application of
 nitrogen1  whose stimulant actions upon
 growth are conceded as the best4    ,in
 temperate regions1 the exigencies of   
climate exact that this be  done with   
discretion and care1 in order that the  
unduly stimulated  growths may be fully 
ripened and matured against the approach
 of an  inclement season4 ,in the       
,tropics no such limitations exist1 and 
the  early growth of the tree may be    
profitably stimulated to the highest    
pitch4 ,that this general treatment1 as 
applied to young fruit trees1  is       
specifically the one indicated in the   

early life of the cocoanut1  may be     
quickly learned by him who will observe 
the avidity with  which the fleshy roots
 of a young cocoanut will invade1       
embrace1  and disintegrate a piece of   
stable manure4    ,notwithstanding lack 
of chemical analysis1 we may not        
question the  fact that considerable    
supplies of both potash and phosphoric  
acid  are withdrawn in the building up  
of leaf and stem2 but these are  found  
in sufficient quantity in soils of      
average quality to meet  the early      
requirements of the plant4 ,it is only  
when the fruiting  age is reached that  
demands are made1 especially upon the   
potash1  which the planter is called    
upon to make good4    ,good cultivation1
 the application of a generous supply of
 stimulating  nitrogen during its early 
career1 and the gradual substitution in 
later life of manures in which potash   
and phosphoric acid1 particularly  the  
former1 predominate1 are necessary4     
,how1 then1 may we best apply the       

nitrogen requirements of its early      
life8 ,undoubtedly through the          
application of abundant supplies of     
stable manures1 press cakes1 tankage1 or
 of such fertilizers as furnish         
nitrogen in combination with the large  
volume of humus necessary to  minister  
to the gross appetite of the plant under
 consideration4 ,but  the chances are   
that none of these are available1 and   
the planter  must have recourse to some 
of the green1 nitrogen-gathering manures
  that are always at his command4    ,he
 must sow and plow under crops of pease1
 beans1 or other legumes  that will     
furnish both humus and nitrogen in      
excess of what they  remove4            
,incidentally1 they will draw heavily   
upon the potash deposits  of the soil1  
and they must all be turned back1 or1 if
 fed1 every  kilo of the resulting      
manure must be scrupulously returned4   
,he must  pay for the cultivation of the
 land1 for the growing of crops that  he
 turns back as manure 7and that involves

 further expense for their  growing and 
plowing under71 and1 in addition1 he    
must be subject to  such outlay for     
about seven years before he can begin to
 realize for  the time and labor        
expended4    ,but there are expedients  
to which the planter may have recourse  
which1 if utilized1 may return every    
dollar of cultural outlay4 ,by  the use 
of a wise rotation he can not only      
maintain his land in a good  productive 
condition but realize a good biennial   
crop that will keep  the plantation from
 being a financial drag4 ,the rotation  
that occurs  to me as most promising on 
the average cocoanut lands of these     
,islands  would be1 first1 a green      
manure crop1 followed by corn and       
legumes1  succeeded by cotton1 and then 
back to green manures4    ,to make the  
first green crop effective as a manure1 
both lime and  potash are essential--the
 former to make available the nitrogen  
we  hope to gather1 and the potash in   
order to secure the largest and         

quickest growth of the pulse we are to  
raise for manurial purposes4    ,both   
these elements are generally in good    
supply in our cocoanut lands2  but1 if  
there is uncertainty upon this point1   
both should be supplied1  in some form4 
,fortunately1 the former is cheap and   
abundant in most  parts of the          
,archipelago1 and1 when well slaked1 may
 be freely applied  with benefit1 at the
 rate of a ton or even more to the      
hectare4    ,in default of the mineral  
potash salts1 the grower must seek      
unleached  wood ashes1 either by burning
 his own unused jungle land to procure  
them or by purchasing them from the     
neighbor who has such land to  burn     
over4 ,if located on the littoral1 he   
will carefully collect  all the seaweed 
that is blown in1 although in our       
tropical waters  the huge and abundant  
marine alg are mostly lacking4 ,such as 
are  found1 however1 furnish a not      
inconsiderable amount of potash1 and1   
in the extremities to which planters    

remote from commercial centers  are     
driven1 no source is too inconsiderable 
to be overlooked4    ,the first green   
crop selected will be one known to be of
 tropical  origin which1 with fair soil 
conditions1 will not fail to give a good
  yield4 ,he may with safety try any of 
the native rank-growing beans1  or      
cowpeas1 soja1 or velvet beans2 or1 if  
these are not procurable1 he  has at    
command everywhere an unstinted seed    
supply of ,cajanus indicus1  or of      
,clitorea ternatea1 which will as well  
effect the desired end--to  wit1 a great
 volume of humus and a new soil supply  
of nitrogen4 ,it  remains for the       
planter to determine if the crop thus   
grown is to  be plowed under1 or if he  
will use it to still better advantage by
  partially feeding it1 subject1 as     
previously stated1 to an honest  return 
to the land of all the manure resulting 
therefrom4    ,he may utilize it in any 
way1 even to selling the resulting seed 
crop1 provided all the remaining brush  

is turned back to the land  and a       
portion of the money he receives for the
 seed be reinvested in  high-grade      
potash and phosphatic manures4 ,the     
plantation should now  be in fair       
condition for a corn crop1 and1 as a    
very slight shading  is not prejudicial 
to the young palms1 the corn can be     
planted close  enough to the trees1     
leaving only sufficient space to admit  
of the  free cultivation that both      
require4    ,it must not be forgotten   
that corn makes the most serious inroads
  upon our soil fertility of any of the 
crops in our rotation1 and1  unless by  
this time the planter is prepared to    
feed all the grain  produced to fatten  
swine or cattle1 it had better be       
eliminated from  the rotation and       
peanuts substituted4 ,in addition to    
this1 he must  still make good whatever 
drains the corn will have made upon this
  element of soil fertility4            
,cropping to corn attacks the cocoanut  
at a new and vulnerable point1  against 

which the careful grower must make      
provision4 ,it will be  remembered that 
an average corn crop makes very         
considerable drafts  upon the soil      
supply of phosphoric acid2 but1 if the  
grain is used  for fattening swine1     
whose manure is much richer in          
phosphates than  most farm manures1 and 
the latter is restored to the land1     
serious  soil impoverishment may be     
averted4    ,the next step in our       
suggested rotation is the cotton crop4  
,here1  too1 limitations are imposed    
upon the planter who is without abundant
  manurial resources to maintain the    
future integrity of his grove4 ,he  may 
sell the lint from his cotton1 but he   
can not dispose of it  7as is frequently
 done here7 in the seed4    ,if the     
enterprise be not upon a scale that will
 justify the equipment  of a mill and   
the manufacture of the oil1 he has no   
alternative but  to return the seed in  
lieu of the seed cake1 wasteful and     
extravagant  though such a process be4  

,the oil so returned is without manurial
 value and1 if left in the  seed1 is so 
much money wasted4 ,the rational        
process1 of course1  calls for the      
return of the press cake1 either direct 
or in the form  of manure after it has  
been fed4 ,with this is also secured the
 hull1  rich in both the potash and the 
phosphoric acid #g which we now know  is
 so essential to the future welfare of  
the grove4    ,the above rotation is    
simply suggested as a tentative         
expedient4    ,the ground will now be so
 shaded that we can not hope to raise   
more  catch crops for harvesting1       
although it may be possible during the  
dry season to raise a partial stand of  
pulses1 of manure value only2  but1 from
 the fruiting stage on1 this becomes a  
minor consideration4    ,this stage of  
the cultural story brings us once more  
face to face  with the principle        
contended for at the beginning of this  
paper1  namely1 that there can be no    
permanent prosperity in this branch of  

horticulture until the crop is so worked
 up into its ultimate products  that    
none of the residue of manufacture goes 
to waste4    ,at best the return of     
these side products is insufficient1    
and1 despite  their careful husbandry1  
we can not ultimately evade a greater or
 less  resort to inorganic manures of   
high cost and difficult procurement4    
,the residue from the press cake is rich
 in nitrogen and humus1 which1  in the  
ever-increasing shade of the grove1 will
 become more and more  difficult to     
produce there through nitrogen-making   
agencies2 but the  waste from the       
manufacture of coir and the ashes from  
the woody shell  will go far toward     
supplying the needed potash4    ,such a 
system would1 if closely followed1      
practically restrict the  farmer's      
ultimate purchases to a small quantity  
of acid phosphates1  or of bone dust1   
which1 in conjunction with good tillage1
 should  serve to maintain the grove in 
a highly productive condition for an    

indefinite term of years4               
,,irrigation4    ,as an auxiliary       
manurial agent of definite1 well-proven 
value in this  ,archipelago1 ,i will    
briefly recite some of the benefits that
 may be  expected to follow occasional  
irrigation during the dry season4    ,it
 strongly accelerates growth and early  
maturity4 ,a few irrigated  trees1      
reputed to be under five years from seed
 and already bearing  fruit1 were shown 
the writer on the ,island of ,jol4 ,the 
growth was  remarkably strong and       
vigorous1 notwithstanding that the water
 of  irrigation had been applied in such
 a way that the tree could only  hope to
 derive a minimum of benefit from its   
application4 ,it had merely  been turned
 on from a convenient ditch whenever the
 soil seemed baked  and dry1 at         
intervals of one to three weeks1 as     
circumstances seemed  to require4       
,irrigation1 but always in connection   
with subsequent cultivation1  may be    
considered equal to a crop guaranty that

 is not afforded so  effectually by any 
purely cultural system4    ,rarely has a
 better opportunity occurred to         
demonstrate the  unquestioned benefits  
that have inured to these few ,jol trees
 from  the use of irrigating waters than
 the present season of #aijb-c4 ,from   
many sources reports come to this       
,bureau of trees failing1 or dying      
outright1 from lack of moisture4 ,while 
it is true that the present  dry season 
has had no parallel since #ahhe-hf1 and 
that the rainfall  during the dry season
 has been less than half the normal1 yet
 it  should not be forgotten that1      
during the eight months from ,october to
  ,may1 inclusive1 the average          
precipitation on the west coast1 at the 
latitude of ,manila1 is only about #dfj 
mm4 and that1 when the amount  falls    
below this1 the cocoanut is bound to    
suffer4    ,though it is true that the  
evil effects of drought may be modified1
  if not altogether controlled1 by      
cultivation1 the assistance of          

irrigation places the cultivator in an  
impregnable position4 ,if  evidence in  
support of this statement were called   
for1 it might be  found to-day in the   
deplorable condition of those groves    
that have  been permitted to run to     
pasture1 as compared with those in which
 some  attempts have been made to bolo  
out the encroaching weeds and grasses4  
,it is probably true that1 except on    
very sandy soils1 continued surface     
irrigation would aggravate the          
superficial root-developing tendency  of
 the tree2 and to what extent1 if any1  
occasional laceration by  deep shovel   
tooth cultivation would injure the tree 
remains to be  seen4 ,there are1        
however1 few economic plants that so    
quickly repair  root damage as the      
,palm1 and1 unless the seat of injury   
extends over  a very large area1 it is  
probable that the resulting injury would
 be  of no consequence1 as compared with
 the general benefits that would  result
 from irrigation4            ,,harvest4 

,harvest of the crop requires but a     
brief discussion4 ,the nuts should  be  
plucked when ripe4 ,the phenomenon of   
maturity can not be readily  described  
in print4 ,it frequently is as evident  
in nuts of a bright  green color as in  
those of a golden-yellow color1 and the 
recognition  is one of those things that
 can only be learned by experience4     
,the practice1 so general in the        
,seychelles1 of allowing the nut to     
hang till it falls to the ground is     
certainly undesirable in these          
,islands4 ,on the contrary1 the overripe
 nuts will seldom fall until  dislodged 
by a storm1 and it is no uncommon thing 
to see nuts that  have sprouted and     
started to grow upon trees in           
plantations where the  harvest is left  
to the action of natural causes4 ,such  
nuts1 of course1  are entirely worthless
 for the manufacture of oil or copra1   
and even  the husk has depreciated in   
value1 the finest coirs1 in fact1 being 
derived only from the fruits that have  

not attained full ripeness4 ,in  any    
case1 the nuts should be picked and the 
crop worked up before any  considerable 
enlargement or swelling of the embryo   
occurs4 ,from this  time onward         
physiological changes arise which       
injuriously affect the  quantity and    
quality of what is called the meat4     
,the heaping up of the nuts for some    
time after harvest favors some milk     
absorption1 which seems to facilitate   
the subsequent easy extraction  of the  
endosperm4            ,,enemies4        
,outside of certain insects of the order
 ,coleoptera1 cocoanuts in  the         
,philippines are reasonably free from   
enemies2 in some districts1  close to   
forest-clad areas1 the raids of monkeys 
do some damage4 ,a  tree-nesting rat1   
which nibbles the young nuts1 is also a 
source of  considerable loss4 ,the rat  
is best overcome by frequent disturbance
 of  his quarters4 ,this involves the   
removal of the dead leaves and thatch   
that form constantly about the base of  

the crown4 ,but the wisdom of  this     
recommendation will depend entirely upon
 circumstances4 ,as the  planter may    
find that rats or the rhinoceros beetle 
are the lesser  evil1 so should he be   
governed4    ,there are localities in   
the ,archipelago where the plague of    
rats  is unknown and where the beetles  
abound4 ,in that case it would be       
unwise to disturb the leaves which are  
very tardily deciduous and  do not      
naturally fall till the wood beneath is 
hard1 mature1 and  practically          
impervious to the attacks of insects4   
,where rats are numerous and insects    
few1 which is the case in some          
localities1 the dead and dying leaves1  
among which the rat nests1  may be      
advantageously cleared away whenever the
 tree is climbed to  harvest the fruit4 
,among serious insect enemies we have to
 contend largely with the very          
obnoxious black beetle1 ,oryctes        
rhinocerus1 and1 fortunately1 to a      
lesser extent1 with ,rhynchoporus       

ferrugineous 7probably the same as  ,r4 
ochreatus of ,eydoux71 while ,r4 pascha1
 ,boehm1 and ,chalcosma atlas1  ,linn41 
are also said to appear occasionally4   
,however different their mode of attack1
 the general result is the  same1 and   
their presence may surely be detected by
 the appearance of  deformed or badly   
misshapen or lacerated leaves4    ,the  
attacks of all species are confined to  
the growing point and as  far downward  
as the wood is tender and susceptible to
 the action of  their powerful          
mandibles4    ,the black beetle makes   
its attacks when fully mature1 eating   
its way  into the soft tissues and      
generally selecting the axil of a young 
leaf as the point of least resistance4  
,others simply deposit their  eggs1     
which hatch out1 and the resulting grub 
is provided with jaws  powerful enough  
to do the same mischief4 ,two or three  
of these grubs1  if undisturbed1 are    
sufficient in time to completely riddle 
the  growing tip1 which then falls over 

and the tree necessarily dies4          
,,remedies4      ,remedies may be       
described as preventive and aggressive1 
and1 by an  active campaign of          
precaution1 many subsequent remedial    
applications  can be avoided4    ,most  
of the beetles attacking the palm are   
known to select heaps of  decomposing   
rubbish and manure as their favorite 7if
 not necessary7  breeding places1 and it
 is obviously of importance to break up 
and  destroy such2 nor can any better or
 more advantageous way of effecting     
this be suggested than by promptly      
spreading and plowing under all such    
accumulations as fast as they are made2 
or1 if this be impracticable1  by       
forking or turning over or otherwise    
disturbing the heaps1 until  convenient 
to dispose of them as first suggested4  
,a truly preventive and simple remedy1  
and one that ,i can commend as a  result
 of close observation1 is the           
application of a handful or two  of     
sharp1 coarse1 clean sand in the axill  

of the young leaves4 ,the  native       
practice is to mix this with ashes1     
salt1 or tobacco dust2  but it is       
questionable if the efficacy of the     
remedy lies so much in  these additions 
as in the purely mechanical effect of   
the sand1 the  constant attrition of    
which can not be other than highly      
objectionable  to the insect while      
burrowing4    ,of offensive remedies1   
probing with a stout hooked wire is the 
only  form of warfare carried on in     
these ,islands2 but1 as the channel of  
the  borer is sometimes tortuous and    
deep1 this is not always effective4 ,a  
certain1 simple1 and easily applied     
remedy may be found in carbon           
bisulphid4 ,it could be applied in the  
holes 7which invariably trend  downward7
 with a small metal syringe4 ,the hole  
should be sealed  immediately with a    
pinch of stiff1 moist clay4    ,it is   
likely that this remedy and probing with
 a wire are the only  successful ways of
 combatting the red beetle1 whose grub  

strikes in  wherever it finds a soft    
spot2 but1 for these species which      
attack  the axils of the leaves1 ,i have
 great faith in the efficacy of the     
sand cure1 and no nut picker should go  
aloft unprovided with a small  bamboo   
tube of dry1 sifted sand1 to protect the
 bases of recently  expanded leaves4    
,in ,selangor cocoanut trees now come   
under the government inspection1  and   
planters and owners1 under penalties1   
are compelled to destroy  these pests4  
,mr4 ,l4 ,c4 ,brown1 of ,kuala ,lampur1 
in that ,state1  who writes             
intelligently on this subject1 #h lays  
great stress on  the value of clean     
cultivation in subduing beetles1 and    
repeats a  cultural axiom that never    
grows old and that will1 consequently1  
bear reiteration here--that it is rarely
 anything but the neglected  plantation 
that suffers1 and that the maintenance  
at all times of a  healthy1 vigorous    
growth is in itself almost a guaranty of
 immunity  from attacks of these        

pernicious insects4    ,while we1       
unfortunately1 know that this is not in 
all cases an assured  protection against
 diseases or insect enemies1 it         
certainly minimizes  the danger and1 in 
itself1 is a justification of the       
high-pressure  cultural treatment       
advocated throughout the preceding      
pages4            ,,renovation ,,of     
,,old ,,groves4      ,material          
improvement of old plantations may      
sometimes be effected  and1 unless the  
trees are known to be upward of fifty   
years old1  generally repays the labor4 
,marked increase in crop has followed a 
heavy thinning out of trees upon the    
,government cocoanut farm at ,san       
,ramon1 ,mindanao4 ,the improvement that
 a freer circulation of air and         
abundant sunlight have effected is very 
marked4 ,where it can be done1  plowing 
is also sometimes feasible and should be
 followed by immediate  crop            
improvement4 ,the average native plow is
 not so well adapted for  working over  

an old or neglected grove as it is for  
original soil  preparation4 ,it acts    
more as a subsoiler and will tear and   
lacerate  more roots than is desirable4 
,a single carabao1 or one-horse         
,american  garden plow1 is the better   
implement for this work4 ,extensive bat 
guano  deposits are found in ,mindoro1  
,guimars1 and ,luzon4 ,some of them show
  richness in nitrogen and1 when        
accessible at a moderate cost1 would  be
 useful in the renovation of old groves1
 where the shade would be  adverse to   
the rearing of good crops of nitrogen   
gatherers4            ,,conclusion4     
#a4 ,there are large areas throughout   
the littoral valleys of the             
,archipelago1 as yet unexploited1 which1
 in the essentials of soil1  climate1   
irrigation facilities1 and general      
environment are suitable  for cocoanut  
growing4    #b4 ,the present conditions 
present especially flattering           
attractions  to cocoanut growers capable
 of undertaking the cultivation upon a  

scale of some magnitude4 ,by coperation1
 small estates could combine  in the    
common ownership of machinery1 whereby  
the products of the  grove could be     
converted into more profitable          
substances than copra4    #c4 ,the      
present production of copra 7estimated  
at #bgh1jjj piculs in  #aijb7 is an     
assurance of a sufficient supply to     
warrant the erection  of a high-class   
modern plant for the manufacture of the 
ultimate 7the  butter7 products of the  
nut4 ,the products of such an enterprise
 would  be increased by the certainty of
 a local market in the ,philippines for 
some part of the output4 ,the average   
market value of the best grades of      
copra in the ,marseilles market is      
#ed4dj1 gold1 per ,english ton4 ,the    
jobbing value on ,january #a of this    
year1 of the refined products1  were1   
for each ton of copra3          ,butter 
fats              #ij4jj      ,residual 
soap oils        #ba4jj      ,press cake
                 #e4bj                  

------            ,total                
#aaf4bj      the difference representing
 the profit per ton1 less the cost of   
manufacture4    #d4 ,the minimum size of
 a plantation1 on which economical      
application  of oil and fiber preparing 
machinery could be made1 is #fj         
hectares4    #e4 ,there is no other     
horticultural tropical product which may
 be grown  in these ,islands where crop 
assurance may be so nearly guaranteed1  
or natural conditions so nearly         
controlled by the planter who1  knowing 
correct principles1 has the facilities  
for applying them4    #f4 ,the natural  
enemies and diseases of the plant are   
relatively few1  easily held in check by
 vigilance and the exercise of competent
  business management4    #g4 ,the labor
 situation is bound more seriously to   
affect the small  planter1 wholly       
dependent upon hand labor1 than the     
estate conducted  on a large enough     
scale to justify the employment of      
modern machinery4    #h4 ,in view of an 

ever-expanding demand for cocoanut      
products1 and in  the light of the      
foregoing conclusions1 the industry1    
when prosecuted  upon a considerable    
scale and subject to the requirements   
previously  set forth1 promises for many
 years to be one of the most profitable 
and desirable enterprises which command 
the attention of the ,filipino  planter4
    ,the greatest mine of horticultural 
wealth which is open to the shrewd      
planter lies in the heaps of waste and  
neglected husks that he can  now procure
 from adjoining estates for the asking  
and cartage4    ,with labor at #a peso  
per diem and at the present price of    
potash and  phosphoric acid1 all the    
husks in excess of #cjj per diem which  
could  be hauled would be clear profit4 
,the ashes of these1 when burned and    
applied to the old grove1 would have an 
immediate and revivifying  influence4   
,many trees in an old plantation have   
ceased to bear4 ,whether this is  due to
 exhaustion from old age or from soil   

exhaustion is immaterial2  each should  
be eradicated and the time-honored      
custom of replanting  a fresh tree in   
its place abandoned4 ,these renewals are
 difficult  enough in any fruit or nut  
orchard where the scientific cultural   
conditions have been of the best4       
,renewals in a cocoanut grove1  unless  
the vacant space is abnormally large and
 can be subjected to  some years of soil
 improvement1 are unprofitable4         
,there is a wide range of opinion as to 
the bearing life of a cocoanut  tree4   
,it is said to vary from thirty to one  
hundred and thirty  years4 ,grown more  
than forty1 or possibly fifty years old1
 the writer  would hesitate to undertake
 the improvement or renewal of the      
grove4    ,palms1 unlike exogenous      
trees1 afford no evidence by which their
  age may be determined4 ,in general1   
with advanced years1 come great  height 
and great attenuation4 ,in the open1 and
 where fully exposed  to atmospheric    
influences1 these form an approximate   

criterion of  age4 ,the so-called       
annular scars1 marking the earlier      
attachments of  leaves1 furnish no clue 
to age4            ,,notes      #a ,the 
,prince of ,palms1 ,treloar4    #b ,the 
cocoanut palm has been reared as far    
north as ,indian ,river1  ,florida1     
latitude #bh ,n41 but has not proven a  
profitable commercial  venture4    #c   
,quoted in ,watts's ,dict41 ,,ii1 #def4 
#d ,bull4 ,torr4 ,bot4 ,club1 #aijb4    
#e ,throughout this paper the writer    
uses this word in preference to         
fertilizing even when speaking of       
so-called commercial fertilizers4    #f 
,farmers' ,bulletin #aad1 ,united       
,states ,department of ,agriculture4    
#g ,conn4 ,exp4 ,sta4 ,rep4 #ahig1 ,part
 ,,ii4    #h ,ag4 ,bull4 ,fed4 ,malay   
,states1 ,february1 #aijc4