20 COCONUTS, KERNELS, AND CACAO. 



of that fruit. The coconut kernel, unlike other kernels, 

 is practically hollow, and the hollow or cavity is almost 

 completely filled with liquid, generally termed coconut 

 " milk/' the walls of the kernel at this stage consisting 

 of a white pulp or jelly barely one-quarter of an inch 

 thick ; but as the coconut gradually matures so is the 

 " milk " for the most part absorbed and used in the 

 building up of the pulp or jelly-like walls, until at full age 

 these walls are sometimes three-quarters of an inch thick. 



The average yield when the trees are in full bearing 

 varies from fifty to seventy nuts per tree, if good culti- 

 vation and manuring have been practised. Individual 

 trees have been known to yield from 150 to 200 nuts 

 annually. 



The nuts are produced in bunches of from 10 to 12 

 nuts each. Natives climb the trees and throw down 

 the nuts. One native should harvest 400 nuts a day, 

 and he should at the same time remove dead leaves from 

 the crown and search for beetles or other insect pests. 

 In a few places the nuts are allowed to remain until they 

 fall naturally from the trees, especially if such nuts are 

 required for seed purposes. 



The cost of forming and maintaining a coconut plant- 

 ation varies according to (a) rent, (6) the character and 

 condition of the soil, and (c) the supply and cost of labour. 

 The following is a fair estimate for the Malay States : 



First Fear. Felling 750, draining 750, seed 350, 

 fencing 200, lining and planting 150, coolie lines 65, 

 bungalow 150, tools 35, stationery 15, medical 

 200, weeding first six months at 20 per acre, super- 

 intendence 500, contingencies 150, say . . . 3,000 



Second Year. Weeding 750, superintendence 500, 



medical and contingencies 250, .... 1,500 



