The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-02-14
FLORIDA COCOANUTS.
Marketable Quantities Raised In
the Far South.
HOW THEY WERE STARTED THERE
A Cargo of Shipwrecked Nuts Washed
Ashore. from which the Large
Groves Originated.

Sixty thousand cocoanuts, at about
five cents apiece, were shipped from
Florida to Northern markets during the
present year. And when the Florida
crop is counted, about all is said. for
nowhere else in the United States ara
cocoanuts produced in market bile
quantities. The industry is increasing
in the State yearly, and ere long
will be one of no little importance.
The cocoanut is not of natural growth
in Florida, its introduction there being
entirely accidental. This took place
about twenty years ago, when vessel.
bound from South American port to
New York. was wrecked off the south.
east Florida coast. Her cargo of cocoa.
nuts was wasi3 shore, and. the res.
dents of tina. newly-settled. phone
section eagerly seized upon the supply
and proceeded to plant them. From
this sprang all the trees and groves
that now assist SO materially in beauti-
flying the country. Large groves. con.
tanning from 300 to 5000 trees, abound.
and the nuts are put to various uses.
Of course, in this land of plenty, tho
desiccated article of commerce is prac-
tically unknown, the housewives using
the fresh nut, newly ripened. and it is
far superior to the other that is moro
deliberately prepared.
Cocoanuts, from the siLe of small
pea, to the full grown size, are found
on the tree at all seasons, as many as
300 hanging to the tree at one time,
There is husk or soaking around
tho nut, and the nut is planted with
this husk still on it, as it causes the
young tree to be more hardy. which is
4 first reed like and jointed. and Is apt
to be easily broken. especially if it has
been grown in nursery and has to be
removed. Nuts are planted about q
foot under ground, and it takes al
the way from six to fourteen months
for them to make their appearance
) above ground. At six years of age
the tree bears. Culture of the nut is
very remunerative, and it takes very
little work and attention to make it
r profitable.
There is a peculiar cloth-li fabric
| that grows around the tree, about the
: quality of burlaps, that can be skillful-
l.. ly fashioned into all sorts of aticles tor
f ornament and use. They ar, made
= with fancy silks. hand painted and
variously decorated, and are indeed
S very pretty.
e Butter has been made and used for
, some time from the cocoanut, and it Ia
, found to be wholesome and palatable,
} and in the regions where they grow,
e the freshly ground nut is used in bread
!. in place of lard. the same quantity be.
h ing used as Of lard.
/ There is a fine fibre in the tree that
d has been unsuccessfully experimental
IS with. and persons in position te
l. know, declare that the possibilities
IS that lie in cocoanut culture are, as vet,
b undreamed of by the majority of PEG
s pie, even by those who cultivate them.
Q They are indeed a beautiful symmet
e rical tree, graceful and feathery, thai
l. adds much to the picturesqueness o
r the landscape. There is always some
l. thing distinctive about every member o
IS the pollen family, whether it be
lonely specimen on desert sands. o
majestic grove in tropical lands
Some of the, trees grow forty feet tall
and grove reminds one standing Il
1t it. more of a stately pillared hall thai
"a aught else. 1t is impressive an
H. grand. and when the winds sweep
IN miserere through the friugy tops, tn
y effect is softening and saddening.
u Cellulose is a substance manufacture
DO form cocoanut bark, which is use
IN much among ship builders for maxim
O. their boats watertight. after thoroug
es coating with the same.
~ 1t is not known how long cocoanu
tree will live, as dead one in thi
a. country has never been seen.