The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-08-25
COCOANUT PALM.
Tree of Slow Growth, But Very Prof.
table When Once Bearing.

/ table When Once Bearing.
The growing of cocoanuts in Mex
leo for profit has been neglected,
because men only raise something
that brings in quick returns, and
that is why many better and more
profitable Investment is overlook
led.
While the eoaconut palm will grow
most parts Of tropical Mexico. the
sections visited by the salt spray of
the ocean or gulf are most desirable.
To produce the best palms. the finest
nuts should be selected form thrift
ty, vigorous trees, just coming into
Huh bearing.
Having made careful selection OF
large, well-matuerd nuts, with the
outer hun intact, as they are taken
from the trees, they should be kept
lin moist, shady place till the shoot
or sprout reaches he ght of 10 to
90 inches, which. under favorable
circumstances, will take six to eight
months. owing TO local conditions,
maturity of nuts, warmth, moisture,
etc.
After this a hole three or four
feet In depth. should be dug, and IL
lin salty soil near the ocean, so
much the better. Otherwise half
lbushei OF sslt should be mixed with
about an equal amount of earth. be
placed ~ the bottom of.the hole and
covered vito a loot or more Of
moist soil Upon this the sproutei
nut should be planted and the hole
iilled IN with earth over the nut and
we'll up on tie body of the sprout.
The earth in this hole, which should
Istill be about two feet in depth must
be kept we'll watered. either by nat
ure or by The planter himself. As
the tree grows, fill in the earth,
placing . liberal supply of salt in
the outer edge of the hole. as II is
filled TO the top, which will take sew
leral months, as the tree grows but
slowly. BY this plan the tree viii
be given proper depth of root and
a firm hold upon the soil, enabling
1t to withstand the force of future
Iwindstorms. The roots of the cocoa
nut palm are short. small and grow
In tangled mass Immediately I'M
der the hole of the tree. so that their
hold upon the soil Is in depth and
mot in spread OF surface.
| The cocoanut palm must receive a
liberal supply OF salt, either from the
soil through its roots. or from the
salt spray that drenches its crown II
liz would be kept thrifty and bear
ling.
4 The tree reaches bearing age at
FIVE to eight years and once IL be-
gins bearing Il goes on increasing for
many years until at maturity IL will
yield from zoo TO 400 nuts per year.
The habit Of the tree, once il begins
bearing. is 70 produce a leaf and
nut stem each lunar month. This
j stem, which is 10 to 20 inches long
bears a cluster OF blooms followed
by the nuts setting around and along
the stem. While the nuts will often
average no more than six 10 ten 70
the gem in the early life Of the
tree. yet on the matured trees. un-
der favorable conditions. often as
high as 30 nuts TO the stem will be
found.
; The cocoanut palm is one of tbs
: most useful and beautiful OF trees
7 Its slim. branches. handicapped
: body with its umbrella head make
II very handsome tree indeed
: while no other tree Is Of 40 grcai
z use 70 mankind. No part. from III
lowest roots 20 It's topmost leaf. bu
Is OF use 20 man. II furnishes food
: fuel. shelter. clothing and medicine
p and each Of those In many differen
! forms.
However. its principal use in Thu
G country Is as wood and oil. The nut
in the she'll. the dried meat or copra
the shredded or dessicated cocoanu
for pastry or corrections. the oil 10
druggists preparations and for oul
most delicate machinery and as |
! substitute for lard and butter, an'
! for soaps, are the common uses Il
Q which the meat and oil Of the MI
: are applied, while the shell Is use'
for cps. buttons. etc.
To obtain the oil the crushed mea
Is subjected 10 heavy pressure or &
!. bole1 in fresh water, from whIci
the clear, practiealiy odorless an'
: swef fish Favored oil 8 secured.
THE cnim Of the body. as also th'
! fIbrDus coa'irg OF The nut, makes |
superior backing for the steel armo
of war vessels.