245 



It would probably be possible to avoid the loss arising 

 through the palm oil remaining in the fibres. Its recovery 

 perhaps by a process of extraction does not pay with small 

 quantities. If it could be recovered the total yield of palm oil 

 would be increased by J per cent., i.e., to i6J per cent. 



The question of varieties has not yet been made sufficiently 

 clear. Very important too is an improved method of cultiva- 

 tion in respect to distance in planting, the restriction of such 

 intermediate crops as seriously exhaust the soil, and the 

 avoidance of burning in the plantation. 



The utilization of palm oil in the manufacture of edible fats 

 only becomes feasible if its acidity is below 8 per cent. ; an 

 improvement in the quality of native palm oil from 23 to 18, 

 or even 14, per cent, would not suffice. 



It' is very interesting to note that in Nigeria palm oil is 

 forwarded from the south to the north; it will be the same 

 on the construction of a Northern Togo railway line. 



THE PHILIPPINE COCONUT INDUSTRY. 



By O. W. BARRETT, 



Chief, Division of Horticulture, Bureau of Agriculture, 

 Philippine Islands. 



[ABSTRACT.] 



The following aspects of the Philippine coconut industry 

 were briefly discussed : The reason for the extreme difficulty 

 experienced in purchasing Philippine coconut plantations. The 

 11 cacique " system was explained, and the faulty title system 

 of land holding was discussed and illustrations of this given. 



Reasons for the low quality of Philippine copra were dis- 

 cussed, the long rainy season in the principal coconut belt 

 rendering sun-drying very precarious during most of the 

 year, thus bringing about extensive use of the tapahan, or 

 smoke kiln; the short-sighted policy of Chinese traders and 

 European agents in the field, who pay as much for poor half- 

 dried copra as for the good article, being also to blame in a 

 measure for this execrable custom. 



Reasons for the limited quantity of copra exported from the 

 Philippines were given : Too close planting, use of the very 

 large number of trees in oil and " vino " production being 

 the principal factors. 



A resume of the present status of copra, prices of copra, oil, 

 and " tuba," and statistics of production were given. 



A few remarks on the labour question and its peculiar dis- 

 advantages in the Philippines. 



