THE COCONUT AND ITS PRODUCTS 19 



Toddy also yields a sugar called jaggery, which is 

 a popular article of diet in certain regions. Jaggery 

 also makes a tenacious cement when mixed with 

 the white of egg and lime from burnt coral or 

 shells. This cement, when hardened, takes on a 

 beautiful polish and closely resembles the finest 

 white marble. 



The milk, which is now practically wasted, could 

 and should be utilised for making vinegar, and it is 

 probable that arrangements will ultimately be 

 made for pooling the output of adjacent plantations 

 for this purpose. 



The root of the palm possesses narcotic properties 

 and is sometimes chewed by the natives of India 

 instead of areca nut. 



The list of purposes served by the coconut palm 

 might easily be prolonged, but sufficient has been 

 said to show that it renders a more signal serviceA 

 and has a higher commercial value, than any tree \ 

 known to man. Indeed, among natives it has ' 

 become an object of worship in many regions and j 

 is venerated as possessing the greatest virtues. 

 From the foregoing it will also be gathered that, 

 quite apart from the main sources of profit, the 

 coconut offers opportunities for the further develop- 

 ment of numerous subsidiary industries in which 

 every by-product can be used to advantage. With 

 the march of science additional uses for coconut 

 products will undoubtedly be discovered ; as a 



