50 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



is very abundant in the forest lands throughout 

 the States, and consequently not costly." 



Sun-dried copra is generally admitted to be 

 the best, and if kept free from mould, has a 

 larger percentage of oil than mechanically dried 

 copra. 



In Malaya four or five days is allowed for the 

 sun-drying method ; half a day if over grill or 

 nebongs, and from two to three hours if by hot- 

 air process. 



The Chinese copra maker of Malaya, although 

 fairly familiar with the many uses to which 

 coconut oil can be put, has not yet accustomed 

 himself to the idea that manufacturers now 

 require it for butter, edible oil, confectionery, 

 and other forms of human food, and it will be to 

 his advantage to adjust his methods of curing 

 to suit modern requirements. The old-fashioned 

 fire-drying processes must give way to methods 

 that do not allow the copra to be scorched or 

 permeated with smoke from the husk fires, thus 

 often rendering it unfit for human food purposes. 

 Also, it must not run the risk of being partially 

 dried, and so become mouldy, for in this state 

 decay soon sets in. 



To be successful, therefore, and keep in line 

 with other sources 6f supply, the system of 

 smokeless drying must be adopted. Old-estab- 

 lished customs die hard, but if native plantation 

 owners were fully cognizant of the harm their 

 crude primitive methods have done to Malayan 

 rubber, they would not, on the eve of greater 



