THE 



G3RDEIN5' &ULLETIIN, 



5TR3IT5 5ETTLEnENT5. 



Vol. II. Issued September 12th, 1919. No. 5. 



RACES OF THE COCONUT PALM. 



In a recent nuniher of the Philippine Af/ricaUaral Review, 

 A'ol. XI., 1918, page 13, Mr. P. J. Wester lias remarked that ex- 

 isting literature seems to indicate the Coconut palm to have "pro- 

 bably not more than thirt}' five distinct varieties " and he adds 

 that such is a remarkably small numher considering the antiquity 

 of its cultivation and its wide distribution. "\^niether this he right 

 or not, investigation only can prove, In -Singapore Islau'l fourteen 

 exist, twelve dilfering from each other in the nut, and two differ- 

 ing also in growth. With this issue of the Gardens" Bulletin 

 figures are given of the nuts of these Singapore races. 



The commonest races in the island are known as Klapa jan- 

 tong, Klapa Inilat, Klapa besar, Klapa sepang and Klapa laga; 

 from the first four most of the Singapore copra is made; but 

 Kla]M laga is too small for copra and is sold cheaply at about one 

 •cent a nut for ordinary domestic use. 



The two dwarf coconuts, Klai)a ]3uyoh which is green, and 

 Klapa gading which is yellow, are now becoming much more com- 

 mon than they were. This is on account of a i)reference due to 

 their very early yield : l)iit Klapa gading is still rare enough for 

 seed-nuts to fetch oO-fO cents each. 



Klapa nipah seems fo ])n)mise l)ig yields, but is not common. 

 It and Klapa hijau. whicli is also rare, are good iiuts for copra 

 making. 



The others have special uses. Kla])a dadeh produces little 

 detached granules of endos]jerm in the milk — not Ijy any means in 

 every nut but' in 4 or ."> ])er cent, and is eaten with sugar as a 

 delicacy. ' Klapa kuning has more sugar in the milk than most 

 -other coconuts and for that reason is reserved for eating. The 

 nuts of the Klai)a biji are eaten young. Those of Klapa wangi are 

 reserved for making medicines as the "meat" has a ])leasant scent 

 .suggesting ])andan. 



Tlie slu'll of Klai)a sekol is fancied for cups. 



AiiiMKi) Bis ITa.ji Omak. 



