The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1886-11-30
REPORTS

the local APPLICATION
REPORTS.
The estate includes 500 acres. 1t
3 situated on fiat land by the sea;
sandy soil. The trees are planted u
x24-77 per acre for good soil, and
nearer Tor bad soil
Comment Much closer than ours.
Bad soil Is planted nearer, as the
heads do not grow so large. Probably
their good soil would be considered
Indifferent II Fiji. as much of the
Ceylon soil Is very poor and the
luZuriant vegetation is due far more
10 constant moisture than TO soil.
Ceylon cocoanuts generally where l
have seen them on the coast and in
land do not seem so luxuriant in their
growth as the FIJI ones. This Is of
course most noticeable In the young
uePs Of from 2 to 5 years old.
L. lal number Of trees on the estate.
62OO0 Being picked. 10000, which
Weld l.2j0.000 Thy actual test)-31
nuts per tree, but including II, 900 out
3 Of bearing $1,000, say Is nuts per
tree. Remaining 1000 trees, young
ones, not yet commenced bearing.
Comment.-The 1000 out of bear
ing are explained below. This is
contingency which apparently has to
be allowed for. The manager thought
that they took this rest from time to
tine IN the course Of nature, but both
the period and duration of rest seemed
quite uncertain. He was not aware
Of any special cause why the block
Of 1000 should have ceased to bear.
Some 800 acres bore well between
the ages Of u and 20, then ceased
almost entirely, notwithstanding that
manure was freely tried, for about Is
years; now, at 35 years, they are Just
commencing to make good return
again. One field of 60 acres, contain
ING 1000 trees, yields 100000 nuts,
say 60 nuts per tree. These trees are
% years old. and this block is
show lot. The estate is divided
mo fields or blocks. The nuts, gath
etsd on each field are counted and
delivered into the tram which runs
between the bloAs. The nuts are
gathered Off the trees and not allowed
10 fall
Comment-There Is no particular
reasoA for this except to facilitate the
keeplra Of statistics
There are five gatherings per an
mum. The nuts are allowed to lie
about six weeks in order at the
meat may come freely from the she'll
Copra Is then about at Its best.
Comment / should imagine that
as the nuts are all gathered at the
same age, and kept for the same time,
a more uniform quality Is produced.
We manure once IN four years, ii
possible. by tying cattle under the
trees successively, two to tree.
Comment.-This IS hardly neces
sary IL FIJI.
We dig round the trees once a year
10 loosen the soil. IN a radius Of some
three feet clear Of the trunk and about
Is inches deep. This is very benef-
cial A coohe should dig one acre
per diem
Comment. This seems excellent.
In our cinchona plantations, most
marked improvement has resulted
from loosening the soil in similar
manner al the roots. The manager
Of the copra estate was very decided
as TO the value Of the process.
We clean every tree once a year
H. e., remove dead leaves, flower
sheaths. etc. The men must climb
the trees to do this properly. 1t is
very important, and keeps off insects,
disease, &c. We collect the leaves
and rRbbish (husks, nutshell, &c.),
l1rn. Apd apply ashes to roots.
Counnent.-The manager was
strong On this point also, especially
Is TO cleaning the trees well out on
the top
The cost Of picking nuts and clean
ing trees j. ) rupees per 1000 trees;
collecting into heaps at the tram lines.
) haltrupee per 1000 nuts; making
copra d. e. :. husling, taking out and
drying meat inside, j rupee 30 cents
Der Loco nuts.
Comment.-Ihe rupee, tho only
worth Is Sd exchange, may be taken
al > stu. for wages purposes. as the
local value has fallen but little, if at
al; thar i wages have not raise In
consequence Of this fail in value of
silver 100 cents / rupee.
4 good man can husk and break 3
g 900 per diem. Say 5 coolies per
100 acres to clean trees. dig roots.
4