x FOREWORD 



to come. Again, there is one very solid fact that 

 must not be lost sight of. The world's coconut 

 output is not available in its entirety for the 

 manufacturing industries mentioned, for there is a 

 very large native demand to be first satisfied. As 

 rice or bananas constitute the national ' stand-by ' 

 in some semi- civilised regions, so, in countries where 

 Cocos nucifera is grown, is the fruit of that tree 

 indispensable to the native hordes who for genera- 

 tions have relied upon it for food, drink, cooking 

 oil, twine for their fishing-nets, cordage, and what 

 not. This native demand, of course, has to be 

 satisfied before a single nut is sold to the foreign 

 manufacturer or other outsider, and with native 

 populations ever growing, we have here a further 

 argument against the probability of over-produc- 

 tion." 



The industry presents unique opportunities for 

 profitable investment of capital, either through the 

 medium of holdings in companies formed to develop 

 the industry, or in acquiring land suitable for culti- 

 vation. In the latter direction it is probably the 

 finest opening the world offers to-day to the enter- 

 prising young man with moderate capital and some 

 knowledge of agriculture. It has been stated by 

 no less an authority than Sir W. H. Lever that 

 about 2,000 spent in developing an estate of 200 

 acres will ensure an income of 2,000 per annum. 



This work will have served its purpose if it 



