10 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



put at ten to twelve years. A good coconut estate in full bearing will 

 be worth Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,200 per acre. 



The yield per tree per annum may vary on estates from 30 to 80 

 nuts, with an average of 45. The number of trees per acre runs from 

 60 to 80. The price per 1 ,000 nuts, under nominal circumstances, 

 may be said to be between Rs. 50 and Rs, 75. In 1922 the number 

 of coconuts exported was 22,317,747, valued at Rs. 1,825,226, of 

 which nearly 90 per cent went to the United Kingdom. 



The number of nuts required for a candy (5 cwt. or 560 lb ) varies 

 from 900 to 1,500. Copra is often prepared by contract, the contractor 

 being paid Rs. 150 per 1,000 dried nuts supplied to him in husk- 

 It is generally sorted into three grades, the usual percentages 

 being 95 percent of No- 1, 4 per cent of No. 2, and 1 per cent of 

 No. 3. 



The cost of production of a candy varies form Rs. 25 to Rs. 40. 

 The price varies considerably and has touched Rs. 120 per candy, but 

 normally is Rs. 60 to Rs. 80. 



In 1922 the export of copra was 1,686,589 cwt., valued at 

 Rs. 28,804,064, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Holland, 

 Italy and Norway taking the largest percentages. 



A candy (5 cwt.) of copra produces about 3 cwt. of oil. The 

 price of oil is about double that of copra. Locally-made oil usually 

 contains \\ to 2 per cent of fatty acid. 



The average shippers' buying price.-, of oil lie between Rs. 500 and 

 Rs. 600 per ton. The unit of shipment in the shipping ton, which 

 is 14 to 15 cwt. The bulk of the oil (55 per cent) finds its way to the 

 United Kingdom — Germany, Egypt and Norway, too, taking a fairly 

 large quantity. The poonac, or a cake left after the removal of the oil 

 from copra, is largely used locally as cattle food. In 1922, 115,479 

 cwt. valued at Rs. 766,279 were exported. 



The quantity of oil exported in 1922 was 554,626 cwt, valued 

 at Rs. 14,924,985. 



In the manufacture of desiccated nut, 1,000 nuts should yield 

 from 350 to 400 lb. The cost of production is about 25 cents, per lb. 



In 1922, 786,215 lb, valued at Rs. 20,159,183, were shipped, 

 the bulk g ing to the United States of Amercia (36 per cent) and the 



