334 



KiRKWooD AND GiES : Chemical Studies 



is used as food for cattle and as a fertilizer, having special value in 

 both these connections.* It is sometimes also used illicitly as a 

 food adulterant. 



The analytic percentage results on page 333 have been reported 

 by various agricultural chemists for such products from nuts grown 

 in the eastern hemisphere. 



The following summary of facts connected particularly with food 

 value was given several years ago by Woods and Merrill : f 



Edible portion, 

 As purchased, 



Without milk, as purchased, 

 Cocoanut milk, as purchased. 

 Shredded cocoanut, 

 Shredded cocoanut, 

 Edible portion, 

 Cocoanut milk, 



V O 



V " 

 3 •- 



^ 3 in 



1! g..H 



2,986 



1,529 

 1,872 



97 



Through the kindness of Dr. MacDougal we have been able 

 to examine an account of " The cocoanut and plant vitality " in the 

 Bulletin of the Botanical Department of Trinidad (July, 1900, p. 

 249). Reference is therein made to the report of Bachofeu in the 

 Queensland Agricultural Journal for April, 1900. Bachofeu says : 

 "Though there exist several analyses of parts of the cocoanut, no 

 one seems to have undertaken the task of getting a complete 

 analysis made with the view of ascertaining the actual demand 

 made by the cocoanut upon the mineral constituents of the soil." 



The results obtained by Bachofeu for a single nut are so com- 

 plete, and so general in their interest and application that we quote, 

 on page 335, his general summary in its entirety. | 



Bachofeu' s results indicate that sodium chloride and potassium 

 phosphate are the chief inorganic matters drawn upon in the de- 

 velopment of the cocoanut — chemical data in harmony with the fact 



*v. Knieriem : Chemisches Centralblatt, 2: 672. 1898. 



f Woods and Merrill : Bulletin, Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, No. 54 ; 

 81. 1899. 



J The analyses were made in Ceylon. Native nuts were used. 



