30 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL 



OIL AND FIBRE. 



The expression of coconut oil by means of the Chekku " or 

 bullock mill has been carried on from comparatively remote times. 

 The chekku takes a load of from 30 to 40 lbs. copra and calculating at 

 six full charges a day, should deal with 5 to 6 cwts. This ought to give 

 a yield of somewhat less than li cwt. oil and the balance in poonac. 



These crude mills are being superseded by up-to-date oil-extract- 

 ing machines, though in many parts the chekku is still seen at work. 

 In modern oil factories there is first a macerating process and then 

 the expression of the oil by powerful presses. Sometimes there is a 

 first cold pressure for the best quality of oil, and afterwards pressure 

 with heat. The oil is thereafter left standing to clear by sedimen- 

 tation or is clarified by means of pressure fillers. The best mills on 

 the Continent are able to extract 70 % and over of oil, provided the 

 copra is thoroughly dried. With ordinary copra, however, the 

 percentage is about 65. 



Along the Southern coast of Ceylon it is a common sight to see 

 the husks of coconuts which have been steeped in water — generally 

 brackish — being beaten out by women with the aid of rude mallets. 

 This primitive method of extraction is responsible for a considerable 

 quantitiy of fibre which finds its way to Galle and Colombo. In 

 recent years a great many fibre mills have been set up in the coconut- 

 growing districts, chiefly round about Colombo, Negombo and 

 Kurunegala. 



After the separation of the husks from the nuts, the former are 

 taken to the soaking tanks, where they are left immersed in water till 

 they become pliable. They are sometimes first put through a machine 

 which crushes them, breaking the outer skin and flattening the fibrous 

 layer beneath. Next the husks are taken to the extracting machines 

 which are worked in pairs, the first known as the breaker being set 

 with coarse teeth for bi-eaking up the husks, and the second, or 

 finisher, fitted with finer teeth for combing the fibre, which is then 

 washed and dried. 



The fibre known as bristle or brush fibre is that which remains 

 in the operator's hand, after the husks have been submitted to both 

 machines, while the spinning or mattress fibre is carried through the 

 machine and passed out. The bristle fibre is further combed by hand 



