XV 



PREFACE. 



WHATEVER difference of opinion may exist 

 in London to-day as to the future of the 

 ^80,000,000 that have been actually subscribed 

 up to now for planting rubber in the East and 

 elsewhere, and whether, when the top price of 

 rubber drops to 35. per lb., or lower, Brazilian 

 and indigenous rubber will be left behind, there 

 seems no difference of opinion as to our being 

 on the eve of an active coco-nut boom. 



This was particularly noticeable at the 

 London Rubber Exhibition (191 1). Interested 

 and absorbed as visitors were in the exhibits, 

 time and again conversations about rubber 

 prospects and possibilities would stop short, and 

 be switched right on to coco-nuts. The idea one 

 gathers from this sudden change is that since the 

 public will swallow no more rubber promotions 

 and still have plenty of money to invest, a new 

 and profitable outlet must be found for them. 

 Coco-nuts certainly offer a very favourable op- 

 portunity since there is an insatiable demand 

 for the oil, and, given favourable circumstances, 

 the prices obtainable either for copra or oil, 

 even if the area is considerably increased, will 

 (especially if the matter of by-products and 

 subsidiary industries is carefully studied and 

 followed up) leave a substantial margin of 



