DESICCATED COCONUT INDUSTRIES 149 



scarce and dear. Poultry also thrived on it, and 

 experiments proved that the laying powers of hens 

 were materially increased by its use. 



But from special inquiries we have made it 

 appears that British farmers are now realising the 

 value of poonac as a cattle food, and that the 

 consumption is increasing with surprising rapidity. 

 To-day the market price of pure coconut cake is 

 about 7 per ton, and there is no doubt that, 

 as the consumption increases, the quotation 

 will advance, until the coconut product com- 

 mands higher prices than any similar cattle food 

 cake. 



The following table shows the volume and the 

 value of both refined and unrefined coconut oil 

 imported into the United Kingdom during recent 

 years : 



These figures afford a striking illustration of the 

 growth and importance of this industry, and 

 suggest a closer inquiry into the values and 

 proportions obtained from each source of 

 supply. 



