, 1893-03-15
COCOANUT CULTIVATION IN
JAMAICA.
Fr0m the West Iadia d Commercial

The several varieties # cocoanuts in Jamaica
are distinguished ny shape and size and the
thickness of t . husk and the flesh part of
meat. The Curacao is II very large nut with
thick husk anil meat. The Maiden variety in
very ANAL and grows in large punches. and.
while the Cnracoa seldom has more than six
or seven nuts to the bunch, there was re-.
Gently exhibited a bunch which contained
thirty nine nuts OF the Maiden variety. The
CurScoa produces the lar.esi amount OF oil.
usually averageing IL quarts to 100 nuts
about 3 gallons more than any other variety.
In sprouting the cocoanul the Aatiest of its
three si1es should hs laid IN the ground,
and should be, so Inclined that, the
wstsr OF milk. i'll aow towards the eyes. The
uppermost ridge ,houid lie clipped 10 allow
the moisture to peas rate, causing the syes
to grow more quickly The .arlier the nuts are
transplanted after sproutins (the season be-.
ing favourab!e) the s roneer will be the plant.
The beginning If The October season is the
best time TO transplant. In laying out q
plantation the lind should be thoroughly
cleared, as the young slant requires no shade.
The soil should be Of a moist. lonmy nature,
we'll drained. The gene nj distance between
the trees 10 half a chain, though it. is no loss
to put them forty feet, especially when the
land 10 very moist, for then the sun can come
in between the branches when the trees grow
old and warm the land III ;ransplanting,
the nut should be buried uniil The top 10 on
a level with the surface If the ground. Then The
earth about It should BIZ hoed clean for from
thres TO FIVE feet. After hoeir it, advisable TO
shake the dirt fir NJ the grass and pile The latter
around the young plant, special attention be-
ing gwen not to choke the plant. While the
plants are growing, guinea grass may DO
grown between them. keeping a space Of five
I, OF around the pant clear. No stock should
be allowed on the plantation until the trees
have grown to somesize and he branches arc
beyond reach. 1t has heen found best, by
experience. not to cut the b anches or to trou.
be the tree in any way in los growth. a plan.
tation usually will commslC" to bear in seven
years, and be in full ben ing in ten years.
Generally the nuts are permitted to fall to tho
ground, and are gathered every day or two and
tax n to the stOrehousr.
The greater part of the nuts shipped from
Jamaica go to America AMI Canada. although
considerable quantity 20 to England and the
Continent In shipping to he first named
countries all the nuts are husked, while they
are sent to Europe In the husks. The average
price realised by tae producer is . cents per
nut. Some growers instead Of shipping the
mats, prefer to extract tie oil, which is done
by a very simple process. After being husked
the nuts are broken up aud ;he rieces laid near
o FIRE until the meat viii come away from the
she'll. Then the meat is washed, she thin
black skin that lies between it and the she'll
not being removed. After being washed the
meat is gated, placed in a vat, boiling water
poured over it, and the whole strained. When
the water cools the oil floats on the top and is
skinned of and cooled and is ready for ship.
ment. The oil sells for II cents per pint
bottle. 1t 10 now proposed to introduce into
Jamaica the manufacture of cocoanut butteS.