Under ordinary conditious, distinct leaflets begin to show themselves at the end of the 1st year, and are completed at the end of the second, on each frond, which will be 3 in. thick in the stem or leaf-stalk next the parent trunk. In the 3rd year, the bottom of the frond assumes a horse-shoo form where it clasps the main tree; in the 4th year, the trunk of the tree appears slightly above ground, and has not less than 12 fronds. About the 5th year, the trunk is fully manifested, and there should be about 20-24 fronds; when a luxuriant well-grown tree begins to bear fruit, there will be no less than 36 of these branches or fronds. Spathes or shoots, whence even tually the flowers emerge, begin to appear in the 6th year. The height of the stems at this im portant period, in some kinds usually, and in all when influenced by the soil, will be only 1-2 ft. above the ground; in other cases, it may be 16 ft. For the first few months, these flower-shoots are deceptive, and only dry up ; but within the year, they begin to retain their blossoms and bear a few fruit, yielding abundantly in 3-4 years after their first appearance. In six months from blos soming, the kernels of the nuts begin to solidify : in a year, the fruit is fully ripe—even sooner if the season is very hot and dry. The produce of the tree in full health and properly tended is much dependent on soil and climate. The average may be put dowu at 120 nuts in the twelve months; in a low and sandy soil, it will amount to 200; in gravel and laterite, not 60. The most productive months in India are from January to June, that is for ripe nuts, the hest bringing them quickly to maturity. It is calculated that where the roots of the trees can reach water, and the soil is alluvial, the trees will bear 8-10 bunches of fruit ; in other and higher lands, not more than 6. The trees bear until they are 70-80 years old.
When the trees begin to show spathes, they are often tapped for toddy, during the monsoon, and for that season only, this being supposed to render future fruit-branches more numerous, and to give the sap a tendency to flow. In some places, the trees are never allowed to bear fruit, but toddy is always extracted. If toddy is drawn for 6 months, it should not be repeated till at least 5 years have elapsed, otherwise the trees become exhausted, and produce no nuts. While some of the spathes are cut for toddy, the others will grow nuts, provided the number cut is not too great. Gathering some of the tender nuts from the earlier bunches greatly develops the succeeding branches, and strengthens the whole tree ; but it is not recommended to cut the spathes out before they are matured or dry. Some 8-10 spathes dry and fall from each in a year, chiefly in the hot season ; these should be removed when turning brown, leaving a small portion of the foot-stalk on the tree. The per centage composition of the nut is said to be :—Water, 39.7 ; oil, 29.3 ; amygdalin, 14 ; woody fibre, 9 .5 ; sugar, ; gum, 2 ; emulsin, 1.1; albumen, 0 ; mineral matter, 0.2. The exterior of the nut affords a valuable fibre (see Fibrous Substances—Cocos nucifera); the nut itself is very largely consumed as an edible fruit ; and it is expressed to yield an oil (see Oils—Coca-nut), the remaining solid portion being largely used for feeding cattle. The trade in coco-nuts is very
extensive.
Many years since, the Malabar coast was estimated to produce 300-400 million nuts per annum, worth 50,000/. ; and the exports of copra were reckoned to have a nearly equal value. Travancore grew 53 million trees 30 years ago, and the number has much increased since. In Cochin, the cultivation is very rapidly extending. The Madras presidency has over 200,000 acres under coco-nut palms. The value of the coco-nut plantations of Ceylon is computed at 15,000,0001.; their acreage in 1865 was 332,890 ; and the situation is chiefly in the north-western, northern, and southern provinces. More recently, the area is stated at 200,000 acres, and the production at 700 800 million nuts annually, worth 2,000,000/. The production varies exceedingly. Thus in 1866, over 128 million nuts were recorded, and others to the value of nearly 25,000/. ; in 1868, only 30 million nuts and 28,000/. worth. The exports in 1870 were 5,478,677 nuts (and 623 bags), value 17,185l.; and 40,638 cwt. copra, value 31,678/. In Cochin China, more than 33,000 hectares (of 23 acres) are occupied by coco- and areca-palms. The former is very abundant in the E. Archi pelago, and the annual produce of the trees is estimated to be worth 2,500,000/. In 1874, Amboyna possessed over 500,000 trees ; Banca, about 123,000 ; Minahassa, 600,000 ; Gorontalo, 250,000. Java and Madura number over 20 million trees. Plantations in the Straits Settlements are small and scattered, yet no district seems better suited to the cultivation of the nut. In the Straits of Malacca, the chief natural enemy of the tree is a species of elephant-beetle, which begins by nib bling the leaves into the shape of a fan ; it then perforates the central pithy fibre, so that the leaf snaps off; and lastly it descends into the folds of the upper shoot, where it bores itself a nest, and, if not speedily extracted or killed, soon destroys the tree. A similar kind of beetle is known on the Coromandel coast, and is extracted by means of a long iron needle or probe, having a barb like that of a fish-hook. By using this, and by pouring salt or brine on the top of the tree, so as to descend amongst the folds of the upper shoots, the evil may be prevented or got rid of; the natives of Keddah say that this insect appears at intervals of 2, 3, or more years. The common kinds of the nut, under very favourable circumstances, begin to bear at 6 years of age ; but little produce can be expected until the middle or end of the 7th year. The yearly produce of one tree with another may be averaged at 80 nuts. The quantity of oil which can be manufactured from 400,000 nuts will be, as nearly as possible, 834 piculs (of 1331 lb.). The coco-nut is foremost in importance among the vegetable productions of Borneo. The wars of the inhabitants have almost exterminated the plant from the W. coast, but it is abundant to the northward ; and the Natuna Islands on the west, and Sulus on the east, are said to be covered with this palm. The rugged coral rock (limestone soil) and salt breezes of the lie Islands seem very favourable to its growth, and it abounds up to the highest points, and produces fruit all the year round.