Coconut Agronomy, 1954-1958.

Abstract

Despite the importance of the copra industry to Papua and New Guinea, knowledge of some of the basic agronomic problems of the coconut still lags behind that of the other tree crops of the Territory. The author, the Coconut Agronomist at the Lowlands Agricultural Experiment Station at Keravat, New Britain, explains that a survey of world coconut literature showed that this situation is international. In this article, Mr. Charles describes the new experimental programme which was undertaken after war damage was cleared up in Papua and New Guinea and the progress made since 1954. The work has proceeded along two major lines-the improvement of existing palm stands and the development of improved seed for new plantings.