DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2373#0180
156
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER seedlings, at twenty feet distance from each other in all directions j
Fln- for when planted nearer, they do not thrive. The holes are two feet
June n. deep, and a cubit wide. At the bottom is put sand seven inches
deep, and on this is placed the nut with the young tree adhering to
it. Sand is now put in until it rises two inches above the nut, and
then the hole is filled with earth and a little dung. Every day for
three years, except when it rains, the young trees must have water.
While the trees are young, the garden is cultivated for all kinds of
Tarkdri stuffs, which serves for weeding. When they have grown
up, the ground is ploughed, and cultivated for sugar-cane, betel-
leaf, Cera Butta rice, Sesamum, Huts'" Ellu, Tadaguny, Carlay, Hes-
saru, Udu, Huruli, Shamay, Navonay, or Ragy, according as the soil
is fitted for either of these crops. Mango and jack trees are also
planted in these gardens, but greatly to their prejudice ; for no cul-
tivation can be carried on under these trees.
The coco-nut palm begins to produce when seven or eight years
old, and lives so long that its period of duration cannot readily be
ascertained. I was shown some that were said to have been planted
by Jacadeva Raya, and the people believe that they will live for a
thousand years. Young trees, however, produce most fruit, which
comes forward at all seasons of the year. A good tree gives an-
nually a hundred nuts. A few are cut green on account of the
juice, which is used as drink; but by far the greater part are allowed
to arrive at some degree of maturity, although not to full ripeness;
for then the kernel would become useless. The cultivator in gene-
ral removes both husk and shell, and sells nothing but the kernel to
the merchants, as they transport them even so far as to Madras.
The kernel of the coco-nut enters much into the food of the
richer natives, both in its raw state, and dressed after various
fashions; and it yields by far the finest oil of India, provided the
nut is fresh, and the oil used soon after expression. The husks of
the green coco-nuts are sold to the Whalliaru for making ropes,
at the rate of two thousand the Sultany Fanam (about 8d.); but the
A JOURNEY FROM MADRAS THROUGH
CHAPTER seedlings, at twenty feet distance from each other in all directions j
Fln- for when planted nearer, they do not thrive. The holes are two feet
June n. deep, and a cubit wide. At the bottom is put sand seven inches
deep, and on this is placed the nut with the young tree adhering to
it. Sand is now put in until it rises two inches above the nut, and
then the hole is filled with earth and a little dung. Every day for
three years, except when it rains, the young trees must have water.
While the trees are young, the garden is cultivated for all kinds of
Tarkdri stuffs, which serves for weeding. When they have grown
up, the ground is ploughed, and cultivated for sugar-cane, betel-
leaf, Cera Butta rice, Sesamum, Huts'" Ellu, Tadaguny, Carlay, Hes-
saru, Udu, Huruli, Shamay, Navonay, or Ragy, according as the soil
is fitted for either of these crops. Mango and jack trees are also
planted in these gardens, but greatly to their prejudice ; for no cul-
tivation can be carried on under these trees.
The coco-nut palm begins to produce when seven or eight years
old, and lives so long that its period of duration cannot readily be
ascertained. I was shown some that were said to have been planted
by Jacadeva Raya, and the people believe that they will live for a
thousand years. Young trees, however, produce most fruit, which
comes forward at all seasons of the year. A good tree gives an-
nually a hundred nuts. A few are cut green on account of the
juice, which is used as drink; but by far the greater part are allowed
to arrive at some degree of maturity, although not to full ripeness;
for then the kernel would become useless. The cultivator in gene-
ral removes both husk and shell, and sells nothing but the kernel to
the merchants, as they transport them even so far as to Madras.
The kernel of the coco-nut enters much into the food of the
richer natives, both in its raw state, and dressed after various
fashions; and it yields by far the finest oil of India, provided the
nut is fresh, and the oil used soon after expression. The husks of
the green coco-nuts are sold to the Whalliaru for making ropes,
at the rate of two thousand the Sultany Fanam (about 8d.); but the