THE COCONUT BELT 51 



mainly to New York and Philadelphia. These 

 are the famous San Bias nuts, said to be among 

 the finest in the world after the Malabar nut, which 

 has long held the premier position. The planters 

 claim that they command the highest price 

 in the New York market of any nuts. At the time 

 of writing the quotation is about 10 per 1,000, as 

 against about 7 for the finest Jamaica nuts. 

 Generally speaking, the palms come into bearing 

 between the fifth or sixth year, though occasionally 

 they do so in the fourth year. The cost of landing 

 1,000 nuts in New York being about 3, it will be 

 seen that this leaves a profit of from 1 to 5 per 

 1,000 nuts on the basis of present quotations. The 

 forthcoming opening of the Panama Canal and the 

 increased railway facilities have caused coconut land 

 values to increase considerably, and further appre- 

 ciation is probable, both American and British 

 financiers having awakened to the vast possibilities 

 of this industry in those regions. 



British Guiana produced in 1912 over 1,000,000 

 coconuts and 128,739 Ibs. of copra, there being 

 about 12,240 acres of land under cultivation. The 

 Government authorities report that there is abun- 

 dance of land suitable for the purpose, and, given 

 proper cultivation and drainage, the present yearly 

 crop could be largely increased. We are told that 

 the potentialities of this colony in connection with 

 coconuts are undoubtedly great, its most urgent 



