COCOANUT CULTURE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 16, 19 January 1878, Page 2

COCOANUT CULTURE.

As tin- cocoa mi t is about tho most valuable article at present cultivated in the islands, wo have no hesitation in reprinting the following letter, hearing upon its culture, &c„ from the " Fiji Times ’’

Sir. —The question of the cultivation of cm-on nut trees is one of considerable importance now for this colony, and you may therefore be inclined to publish the information which I send you herewith. it was obtained by me from Trinidad, British West Indies, and contains the answers of two of the largest plantation owners there, to the questions put by me to my agents in Trinidad.

Cart. L. Sun.. 1/evuka, October 3rd, 1877. QUESTION’S UK COCOANUTS AND PLANTATIONS. 1. What distance apart are the trees planted ? a. 2.7 to 30 feet, according to the richness of the soil.

a2. ;iO feet apart in straight linos, so ns to secure the free circulation of the sea breeze.

2. How are nuts planter!, are they first sprouted, what mode of cultivation is adopted, for how many years, what manure ?

A. Nuts arc planted sprouted, the cultivation must bo kept clear of press ami underwood, no manure required here.

a 2. Plants are prepared here, although that ought to be done with well selected nuts, there are always a number of sprouting nuts, which have fallen to the ground and were not picked up, these young plants are tom up (generally in the rudest manner) the root* closely clipped off and the plant then put in the place destined for it, just deep enough in the soil that nothing of the husk is seen. •1. When do they commence to bear a. In six or seven years. a2. Under very favorable eireurastances, the first flowering takes place in the fourth year, and in the seventh to the tenth year the tree is considered in full bearing. •k What is the average yield of a tree in full bearing, when is a tree in its prime

a. Ihe average yield is HO nuts per tree, it is in full prime at the age of ten to twelve years. A-. From oO to 80 nuts annually. How far bock from the Im-ucli will trees liear well !

v From « few liim-ln-1 vhiil-. to « mil'' finm till' 'i'll.

a2 Not above a mile as for os mv experience goes. C. Are nuts made into oil or copra ?

a. Hire they arc made into oil or shipped as nuts. No copra is made here. a2. No copra is made here; the nuts either being shipped to Europe, or made into oil in the island.

7. What is the return per acre iu copra, oil, or fibre ! A. Calculate trees planted 25 or 30 feet distance and you will find the result.

a2. With good machinery 1000 nuts will give 25 gallons oil, 350 lbs. of fibre, 150 lbs. oil meal.

8. What is the value of copra, oil, and fibre in Trinidad ?

a. 3/4 per gallon oil, and 1 id. to 3d. per lb. of fibre. a2. Oil tho Imperial gallon (9 lb.) from 800 to 890.

9. Value of cocoanut plantations per acre when in bearing ? a. Calculate the tree at about 8/4 which is its value here.

vi The value of a cocoanut plantation is generally taken at S3 for each

bearing tree. 10. What profit per acre should a eoeoanut plantation yield ?

a. Depends upon circumstances, upon the quality of hind, rate of wages, kc. A - -'. That it appears to me to depend altogether on circumstances ; an estate of I’UO acres is considered very small here.

11. How many nuts to a tun of oil or copra >

A. 1000 nuts will yield by hand ctiiFhing from 15 to 10 gallons of oil; by superior machinery, hydraulic presses, 25 gallons. 12. How many laborers required to a plantation of 200* acres I A. Depends upon the soil. 13. How is copra made, dried in the sun. in kilns, or in houses >.

a. The copra is either dried in the sun, or in warming houses. a2. The kernel is dried in drying houses heated bv steam.

14. What machinery is required for making fibre, what iloca it cost, and how mnch can it do in a day ? a. I cannot answer as I have never made any fibre. '2. We received at the time estimates of oil manufacturing plans varying from 41700 to £2OOO. For the making of fibre, are required—

£ 9. (i. 1 crushing machine, valued at.. 50 0 0 - straightening machines at £-28 lUh 57 0 0 1 breaking machine's, with steel teeth 88 0 I) 1 large willy machine, fur cleaning 37 0 I) 1 improver jack, for twisting cope 5 10 0 G steel combs, for brush llhre . . 710 l) Shafts and belts for driving, _ about 80 0 0 Further, a largo cast iron tank, for soaking the lawks, fur about 30 0 0 15. What is considered the coat to a planter of copra or oil by the ton ? A. Calculate 15 to 25 gallons per 1000 nnt.s.

a2. This varies much according to situation of estate, abundance or scarcity of labor, &c., generally 830 are calculated as the cost of producing one gallon oil (9 lb.)