The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-05-18
COCOANU1S AGAIN.

nut in the Hawaiian islands is owing
to old age. We cannot expect them
to last forever. The sugar-cane hav-
ing absorbed so much interest here,
the cocoanuts have been almost for
gotten. In countries where cocoa
nut culture is made business of, as
soon as the palms show signs of de-
cline, young ones are planted midway
between the old ones, and receive
their protection until the old ones are
in the way, when they are destroyed.
Mr.. Vetlesen's remarks about fail
ures are in the main correct, but If
investigated he will probably find the
causes come under enc of these
.heads-old age, neglect or inexperi-
ence. Although old age can hardly
be called failure, the old palms may
have paid the older generations well,
which the younger generations have
let go to the "dogs."
l would suggest that places fire.
quented with strong winds or heavy
gales are not the most desirable for
the cultivation of the cocoanut, and
here arises one cause Of failure-in
the first place the palms have been
planted too close together; they grow
up and their branches overlap; the
first gale that comes they lash one
another until nothing but the stalks
remain, and then they are useless.
But this is practically overcome.
Plant them farther apart, and il no
extraordinary gale comes before they
come TO maturity, ten to one they
will weather it out afterwards. l am
not acquainted with Kekaha, Kauai,
but my foregoing remarks will apply
to Maui, between Kahului and Maa-
laea bay, where the wind at times is
terrific.
Who that has travelled much in
this direction has not seen the vessels
at Maalaea Bay having to weigh
anchor, and go after their boats
blown out to sea? There are several
causes to which failure can be attri-
butable-the principal being pro-
tlacted drouth. The Micronesian
Islands have lately been suffering
from this cause, so their yield of
cobra has been small accordingly.
The cocoanut is not exempt from
its share of enemies, viz, ants, rats,
wood-lice, hermit-crahs, land-crabs,
small boys, etc. The remedies for
these are-ashes and salt for the ants
and wood lice nail sheet of zine
| (say two feet long) around the tree
for the rats and land-crabs, and to
spoil the little game of the hermit
crab (who has strong weakness for
the young plant), take an old kero-
sene tin, cut off the two ends, and
place it over the young tree; small
boys, according TO circumstance.
presume that Mr.. Vetlesen and
others interested in this matter, have
carefully preserved your previous
articles on "Diversitied Industries"
in which the manners and customs of
handling the cocoanut, in different
parts of the world, are fully explain
ed, but for the benefit of those who
have not, would submit the follow
ing
GENERAL DIRECTIONS.
The seed-nuts should be gathered
from healthy, vigorous trees, plucked
at maturity, and not allowed to fall
to the ground, as the nut is liable to
crack, and if the milk escapes it will
not sprout. Care must also be taken
in handling them during transporta-
ton. Spread them in the sun to
sprout, on layer of ashes, and a
little salt Clock out for the afore-
mentioned enemies). AS soon as
they sprout and the roots come
through the husk, they will require
moisture from another source the
nut itself supplying it until this
period.
Do not plant them any less than
twenty feet apart. Dig hole five
or six feet deep and wide in proper
tion-to be regulated according to
circumstances-depth of soil, fire.,
quency of strong winds, etc.
would advise at least six feet, if pos,
sible, if for no other reason, you
have not SO far to go for the nuts
when the tree has matured. You
will find by the time the tree has
reached maturity, where you dug the
hole will be level ground. In plant,
ing the nut, take notice in which
direction the young sprout has ten
dency to lean, place it with the
sprout leaning toward the prevailing
wind, half bury the nut in the soil
then place ashes and salt to reach
the top of the nut, but not to cover
it. See that it has sufficient moist,
ure, and after while anything in
the shape of fertilizer will be bene,
fetal.
With regard to procuring the nuts
II i have sufficient encouragement
in the shape of guaranteed orders,
will procure them myself from thu
Southern Islands and land them OIL
the wharf at Honolulu for 10c
apiece. If my foregoing instructions
are adhered to, have not the slight
est doubt that cocoanut cultivation
can be made as remunerative in tn,
Hawaiian Islands as elsewhere.
They are usually quoted at 81 |
IL.