THE COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE COCONUT 7 



shortage of supplies a far more serious problem 

 than it is at the present moment. 



It has been estimated by an expert that of the 

 world's production of coconuts 50 per cent, is con- 

 sumed in the East and elsewhere as food, and 

 20 per cent, transformed into oil for use in the 

 above regions ; so that only 30 per cent, finds its 

 way into the European and American markets. 

 These figures alone show how great must be the 

 competition for coconuts and their products for 

 many years to come. 



The universal demand for coconut products is a 

 comparatively recent phenomenon. It is only 

 during the last few years that planters, traders and 

 merchants have realised the importance of the 

 coconut as an article of world-wide consumption, 

 but when it was discovered that its products could 

 be utilised in the manufacture of nut butter, nut 

 lard and other similar foodstuffs the cultivation 

 of the nut was recognised by experts as one 

 that should be placed upon the firm and per- 

 manent basis that justly underlies most indus- 

 tries connected with the food supplies of the 

 million. The discovery was indirectly brought 

 about by the fact that America was no longer 

 exporting animal fats, owing to its supplies being 

 needed for home consumption. The reason for 

 this was that while the population of the United 

 States had increased by over 16,000,000 between 



