Part 9

There is a wide range of opinion as to the bearing life of a cocoanut tree. It is said to vary from thirty to one hundred and thirty years. Grown more than forty, or possibly fifty years old, the writer would hesitate to undertake the improvement or renewal of the grove.

Palms, unlike exogenous trees, afford no evidence by which their age may be determined. In general, with advanced years, come great height and great attenuation. In the open, and where fully exposed to atmospheric influences, these form an approximate criterion of age. The so-called annular scars, marking the earlier attachments of leaves, furnish no clue to age.

NOTES

"The Prince of Palms," Treloar.

The cocoanut palm has been reared as far north as Indian River, Florida, latitude 28° N., but has not proven a profitable commercial venture.

Quoted in "Watts's Dict.," II, 456.

Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 1902.

Throughout this paper the writer uses this word in preference to "fertilizing" even when speaking of so-called "commercial fertilizers."

Farmers' Bulletin 114, United States Department of Agriculture.

Conn. Exp. Sta. Rep. 1897, Part II.

Ag. Bull. Fed. Malay States, February, 1903.