Whoosh...! Suddenly so many messages. Haa...
Para:
No problem, I probably mis-read some portions. Anyhow, still do be careful with metalaxyl and phytophtora; the fungus has been known to develop resistance to the chemical over time.
fyseng:
No problem.
Kg Teratai:
Do read this blog. You will notice that flowering season is about 3 months long, so it might be a case of late blooming. You could induce flowering if you choose to -
http://durianinfo.blogspot.com/p/durian-se...production.html(1) The Thai coconut is Pandan coconut, and it is a registered variety. We also know is "Aromatic Green Dwarf".
(2) You can get it from DOA in limited numbers. I would suggest you approach MARDI in Teluk Intan, or the nurseries near Bukit Kayu Hitam. MARDI would be most convenient since they propagate quite a lot, but they sometimes run out of stock. However the BKH seeds are higher quality (proven in field trial). Another company you could try (but difficult to convince them to sell to you) is United Plantations (UP) in Teluk Intan, Perak. One or two maybe they oblige lar. They are the largest coconut plantation in Malaysia, and largest hybrid coconut producer in the world. Another company you could try, but again not sure if they willing to sell to you, is YP Plantations in Pahang. They have a very large Pandan coconut plantation also, and most of the materials were bought from UP.
A word of caution though, please test the seedlings first before buying. If the nursery guy refuses to let you test, then don't buy; likely is fake. The way to test consist of two processes:
(i) Cut a bit of the green leaves, and use a lighter to burn the leaves. If it releases a pandan smell, then you are 30% sure it is Pandan coconut.
(ii) Break a bit of the tip of the young root, and mash it up on your fingers. Then smell it. If it has pandan smell, then confirm is Pandan coconut.
If (i) don't give you smell, but (ii) gives you smell, then there might be slight contamination in the seedling (i.e. might be a hybrid). If (ii) fail anyhow, then it means it's a fake. If (i) and (ii) both positive results, then you have a high-purity Pandan coconut seedling.
Also, pandan coconuts are never huge, not even large, and are always green when fresh. The nut should be about two-thirds the size of a volley ball or smaller; if it is larger, then confirm not pureline already. Also look at the collar (the neck of the germinated seedling); it should be a deep green with very little yellow color. If it is brownish green or orange/yellow-green, then it is some other variety. In any case, still do the testing.
Added on July 30, 2012, 5:13 pmEinjahr:
Rabbits don't really need much "coaching" for them to breed, and neither would you need to know much about it.... I mean, they are rabbits.... They will breed like, well, rabbits! Personally, I think the online resources are good enough. Otherwise, just buy a book on the subject, and you'd be good. Aside from that, it's gonna take a bit of trial and error, so start really really small (eg. a pair).
Rabbits used to be eaten quite often in the past here in Malaysia, but nowadays most people prefer the taste of chicken. Can't really blame people, as rabbit meat is very lean (little fat), and really low in tasty cholesterol. It is also quite gamey in taste (taste a little bit like goat), can become quite dry and coarse if not cooked the right way, and off-putting to people who look at rabbits as fluffy cute things instead of food. It would likely be a hard sell if you sold them whole and fresh. But you might have better success if you value added them, i.e. rabbit kebabs/satay, stewed rabbit meat, frozen rabbit burgers etc.
My mom and her family used to rear rabbits back in the Chinese new village, and during the Emergency, helped feed her entire family of 10 siblings throughout the period. They even had enough to share with the neighbours back then. I remember her substituting rabbit for pork in some of the usual Chinese dishes, and even making breaded fried rabbit hind-quarters instead of fried chicken. How she made it, I don't know, because my dad didn't like the thought of eating rabbits, and so she eventually stopped making it.
This post has been edited by Michael J.: Jul 30 2012, 05:17 PM