Freak Coconut Tree

Letter to the Editor.

ABOUT July last, you published the photograph of a seedling coconut which threw a small head of young nuts about the size of grapes.

I now can advise you of a freak coconut tree which does not bear coconuts at all.

Instead it throws out of each spathe a young healthy growing coconut tree or seedling. There is absolutely no sign of a nut. The seedling tree is attached to the bole of the main tree.

This tree is at present growing on Mr.

J. G. Taylor’s estate at Uou Kaea on the island of Taveuni, Fiji.

The head of the tree is one mass of young growing coconut trees, on the bole of the tree there are quite a few young trees firmly attached to the mother tree.

Mr. Taylor has on several occasions cut a tree off, and planted it, but the young trees do not live.

There was only the one freak tree until a few years ago, when the wog passed to three trees in the next line of trees, and those three trees, which had previously borne good heads of ordinary nuts, started to throw varas (young seedlings) instead.

Mr. Taylor, getting “breezy” (who would not!) cut the three new contacts down; but is keeping the original tree as a curiosity.

This tree is well known by all residents of Taveuni as well as to the Agricultural Department, Suva.

Are there any similar trees in the Paci fic, I wonder?

I am, etc.,

Arthur Robinson.

Natovo Estate, Vanua Levu, 18/3/’35.