to demonstrate the
unquestioned benefits that have inured to these few Jolo trees from
the use of irrigating waters than the present season of 1902-3. From
many sources reports come to this Bureau of trees failing, or dying
outright, from lack of moisture. While it is true that the present
dry season has had no parallel since 1885-86, and that the rainfall
during the dry season has been less than half the normal, yet it
should not be forgotten that, during the eight months from October to
May, inclusive, the average precipitation on the west coast, at the
latitude of Manila, is only about 460 mm. and that, when the amount
falls below this, the cocoanut is bound to suffer.

Though it is true that the evil effects of drought may be modified,
if not altogether controlled, by cultivation, the assistance of
irrigation places the cultivator in an impregnable position. If
evidence in support of this statement were called for, it might be
found to-day in the deplorable condition of those groves that have
been permitted to run to pasture, as compared with those in which some
attempts have been made to bolo out the encroaching weeds and grasses.

It is probably true that, except on very sandy soils, continued surface
irrigation would aggravate the superficial root-developing tendency
of the tree; and to what extent, if any, occasional laceration by
deep shovel tooth cultivation would injure the tree remains to be
seen. There are, however, few economic plants that so quickly repair
root damage as the Palmae, and, unless the seat of injury extends over
a very large area, it is probable that the resulting injury would be
of no consequence, as compared with the general benefits that would
result from irrigation.

HARVEST.

Harvest of the crop requires but a brief discussion. The nuts should
be plucked when ripe. The phenomenon of maturity can not be readily
described in print. It frequently is as evident in nuts of a bright
green color as in those of a golden-yellow color, and the recognition
is one of those things that can only be learned by experience.

The practice, so general in the Seychelles, of allowing the nut to
hang till it falls to the ground is certainly undesirable in these
Islands. On the contrary, the overripe nuts will seldom fall until
dislodged by a storm, and it is no uncommon thing to see nuts that
have sprouted and started to grow upon trees in plantations where the
harvest is left to the action o