The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1859-10-10
Tho Cocea. Nat Tree.

This beautiful tree-the most majestic Of the
palms--thriyes in most tropical countries. Its
proper habitat, however, Is, undoubtedly, the
East. In Ceylon, 30 luxuriant Is Its growth, that
deep all round the Island. The Cocoa-nut tree
Is to the poor East Indians, and to the natives Of
the Polynesian Archipelago, what the COW Is to
the peasants Of Scotland and the Shetland ISL
ands. II is even more for II not only furnishes
them with food, but with powerful wine, cloth
ing, and shelter--the leaves being durable
thatch, to cover the habitations Of these simple
people.
The cocoa nut tree thryes the best In saLdy sci,
and within the Influences Of the breeze Il Is,
singular fact, that the tree invariably leans to the
point from which the trade winds bow--generally
with much violence In the West lndies,-as the
,Ss c.S sro@ ths ns ns,rsnacu.4 sx 4. e.a..nt
action In An opposite direction. Far IN the Interior,
where sand does not exist the cocoa-nut viii not
flourish and even when II Is coaxed 10 grew, from
The liberal use Of sand, brought from the seaIade,
becomes dwaned, and refuses to attain tne stately
proportions Of its kind, growing on the very margin
To obtain vigorous tree, the nut, fully rpe, en
closed IN Its outer husk should be b,nsiod In mix
ture of sand and wood ashes. II sho dld bo placed IA
/ standing position, the stem part upwards as hs
eye from which the sprout spriD ~ is at the ond
Everybody who has examined tJanut In the shell
diyested q It's hnsk must have b.srvoi shros eye,
- bore through each Of the oyss, and found tha
/ they only succeeded In rerforating one o
them, with the ordinary appliance OF pom
kniie. 1t is ffom this '.ye the plant springs
and Dme experience Is requisite, to ena
| BILE the planter h. '.etermine, through tn
husK, which side the nj, eve II 81 as TO plan
that pant Of the nut upw ards, in buryingit. In sN
weeks time the sprout from the buried nut appear
| above ground. IL use .nowed 10 rel sch the height ,
about Is inc whe II is dug up aud transp ante
IN the spot u des gnsd 70 oCeupy-care being take
10 te liberal m th' Of sand and ashes, be'or
except the soil Is naturally sandy, when the foVna
material may e dispensed with. From twenty
thlty ictt o ween each tree Is necessary, s 1t IL N
advisable Tor tho branches Of two trees tn touch, b
cause the ruitulness Of each is therrby impaired.
l In te" m year time, from the period 81 planting
ne COG .anut tree begins ~ bear. At this period u
tree i, so short In stature, that the nuts can |
| cas- iy plucked by person standing at its root, An
| 10 bearing OF the tree rs very small. II requir
three four years more before the coeoanut tree
gins 10 bear IN full yigor when good, prolific tre
Will produce from -four 10 Ave hundred nuts por q
! mum. The process Of bearing Is curious and col
tinuss throughout the year. On the same tree "
| be found the blossom and nuts, from the SIZE OF
large marble to those Of full growth. The blo-so.
arc very beautiful, and hang In clusters from thie
stsIn. They Of bright yellow color, and their
titude-.o 70 speAr-drooping from tho parent ''si'
Tho young nut, ss II increase. In aze, and nssr
] It's full growth, begins 10 bc fllfd win dsne'o'
cooling water, Improperly called w u'S'