The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-01-05
DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES.
the CocoANUT.

luXuTlanCe on J0e sea shore, where III
gets the refreshing sea breezes, and
it is most at home in the innumer-
able islands of the Pacific. Its
favorite localities are on the low
lying coast lands of the West India
Islands, the East Indies, the Straits
Settlements, the Malay Archipelago,
Tropical Africa and Tropical Am
erica. But the tree is most largely
congregated and utilized in Ceylon.
1t is the most useful tree to the
natives of the regions where 1t grows,
all its parts being utilized in endless
variety of purposes, and it is an i'm
portant article of food, either in its
natural state or manufactured into
oil. It's said to furnish food for over
l00,000,000 of human beings, and
countless animals.
1t furnishes many valuable and
important commercial products, and
is the subject of careful cultivation
in many countries where large sums
of money are invested in big planta-
tions or 'tcocoanut walks" that are
everywhere profitable. Its chief
commercial value is for the oil OBJ
tanned from the fruit, and for the
fibre of the husk.
As a wholesome food for man,
beast and bird, it is largely consum-
ed in it's native habitats. The natives
of Ceylon and Malacca, living upon
no other food than this, will yet labor
vigorously day after day, while in
the Maldive Islands, labor perform
ed is more frequently paid for in
cocoanuts alone. The gelatinous
albumen of the young nut is a deli
cate food containing all the constitu-
ents of wholesome nourishment. As
it ripens the albumen hardens, and
though still edible is less digestible.
The milk of the young cocoanut is
an agreeable, nutritive and healthy
beverage. In countries where pot
able water is not obtained, only the
milk of the cocoanut is drunk. In
Cuba cocoanut milk is highly valued
for its effect on the kidneys, and it
is one of the most popular cafe
drinks.
1t is the most valuable product of
the commerce of many countries,
and there is constantly increasing
demand for the kernel, the oil and
the fibre. The cultivation is extend
ing rapidly in the regions where it
can be grown, but the civilized world
of the temperate zone can absorb all
the oil and fibre the tropics are likely
to send for generations to come.
In the East Indies the palms are
carefully enumerated and in some
parts yearly tax is levied on each,
and even mortgages are commonly
secured to the extent of two shiliings
to tree.
Trees growing in most fertile soils
will live for century, others less ia
vored from sixty TO eighty years on
ly; the former will yield their fruit
commencing from the fourth to the
tenth year, and in rare intervals con.
tinue until their sixtieth year, and
then gradually decrease in fruitful
ness till they decay.
PLANTING. The nuts for sprouting
should be chosen from those thor
oughly ripe, having full large eyes,
gathered from trees past the middle
age-not aged ones-and from clus-
tiers containing few fruits. These, il
carefully planted, will be sure to
sprout and grow well and insure flu
ture luxuriance, longevity and contln'
ued fruitfulness. Nuts from old trees
will have small eyes, the sprout viii
be thin and weak, and the future tree
will be irregular and deficient in its
produce. Nuts from immature trees
will, if they do not rot at the eyes
grow rapidly and bulky, but the fruit
is liable to drop before it gets con
sistency, and the trees will fail be
fore middle age.
The seed nuts should not dry OF
the trees, for then they would no
have enough water to cherish thu
sprout, but being gathered at full
maturity must not be allowed to fal
to the ground, for it is fatal injury
if the nut is cracked Or the polished
cover bruised so as to collect damp
Unless the seed nut is carefully gath
cred and perfect the tree will be veal
and profitless.
When gathered, they should b.
kept not less than month befor
being planted, in order that some o
the moisture be absorbed, and tn
rind be rendered dry and waterproof
If planted too soon the outer fibr
and eyes are liable to rot or send OH
sickly plant. If kept too long TIL
capsule of the eyes will fall off AM
the exposure to damp will affect tn
germ and injure the growth.
The method of planting in Ceylo
is thus described. "The first opera
ton in cocoanut planting is the fol
nation of a nursery, for which pun
pose the ripe nuts are placed i
squares containing about 400 each
these are covered an inch deep wit
sand and sea-weed or soft mud froi
the beach, and watered daily till the
terminate. The nuts put down i
Apri are sufficiently grown to b
planted out before the rains {