cocos 



NUCIPERA 



Cocoanut 



Crushing. 



Poonac. 



Cochin Oil. 



Improvement 

 of Ceylon. 



Smoke-dried. 



Superior Quality 

 of Nut. 



Cold Dry and 

 Hot Wet. 



Trice. 



Uses of 

 the Oil. 



THE COCOANUT PALM 



pure white oil which has the highest commercial value. Crude or ordinary 

 cocoanut oil is, on the other hand, produced by crushing the copra in a 

 native oil-mill worked by oxen. This is a cold dry process, but some of 

 the most highly prized grades have been cold drawn. The mill is really 

 little more than an enlargement of the druggist's pestle and mortar, but it 

 is so efficacious that the extra amount of oil obtained by employing 

 European machinery does not counterbalance the expenditure involved. 

 Moreover, the residue of the copra is sold as cocoanut oilcake (poonac), and 

 the drier the cake the lower its value ; the poonac is normally worth 25 per 

 cent, of the copra. 



The best East Indian cocoanut oil is known as " Cochin." This is 

 remarkable, since it is generally thought that ripe cocoanuts are 

 necessary for the oil, whilst green nuts are best for the fibre. Yet " Cochin 

 fibre " and " Cochin oil " both rank highest and possibly from the same 

 reason, viz. that the name Cochin is given to all high grades. However, 

 it is possible, as mentioned above, that what is called " Cochin coir " comes 

 in reality very largely from the Laccadives and the Cochin oil may come 

 from Cochin. In 1897-8 the Tropical Agriculturist opened its columns 

 to a discussion as to the reason for the higher price obtained by Cochin 

 compared with Ceylon cocoanut oil. The difference was then said to be 

 about 36 per cent. But in January 1904 there was apparently little differ- 

 ence, and in May 1905 Cochin oil was selling at only 16 per cent, better 

 than Ceylon ; hence it may be assumed Ceylon had improved materially. 

 During the discussion indicated an " Old Cocoanut Planter " observed that 

 perfectly clean and dry copra yields an oil which if put in a tumbler is in- 

 distinguishable to the eye from a similar glass of water. The inquiry, it 

 may be said in conclusion, resulted in a general agreement on several points, 

 such as that the purity of colour and therefore higher price of Cochin oil 

 were due to the greater care taken in the selection of nuts for crushing and 

 in the preparation of the copra. It was acknowledged that smoke-dried 

 copra usually resulted in a tainted oil ; that none but quite ripe and quite 

 sound nuts should be used (it was said, for example, that on the Cochin 

 coast the nuts are allowed to drop off the trees) ; that great care should 

 be taken to keep the split nuts free from dust and dirt whilst drying ; 

 and finally, that the excess of stearine in Cochin oil, which makes it prefer- 

 able for candle-making, is due rather to the superior quality of the nut and 

 more careful cultivation than to any natural superiority of the soil. Almost 

 all Ceylon (European) growers, it may be observed, are agreed that one of 

 the principal advantages of the Cochin climate lies in the fact that the 

 copra can be dried in the sun. In the controversy above indicated it was 

 stated, however, that if the copra were dried at an even temperature, where 

 smoke could not reach it, the result would be equally good with the sun- 

 dried nut. But it may be added the difference between cold dry and hot 

 wet expressed oil may be a far more important factor than hitherto 

 recognised in determining the value of cocoanut oil. All the cocoanut 

 products seem subject to extreme fluctuations in price. It is generally 

 accepted that the safest standard to purchase copra or cocoanuts is the 

 price ruling for the oil. 



The OIL is largely used in India both in cooking and for toilet 

 purposes. Its employment as an illuminant was at one time important 

 but has considerably diminished owing to the introduction of cheap 

 American kerosene, the best qualities of which are cheaper than ordinary 



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