138 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



Such a kiln will dry about 1,700 Ib. of 

 copra in 24 hours ; this is equivalent to about 

 23 tons per month working continuously. The 

 flooring under the pipes which surround three 

 sides of the hurdle supports is used to cool 

 off the hot copra as it comes off the hurdles. 

 This cooling must be done thoroughly and 

 efficiently, or the copra, the same as cacao 

 beans, will mildew if packed hot. Like cacao 

 and sugar, therefore, it must be shovelled over 

 and turned frequently to cool. If the kiln 

 is properly worked, the result will be a snow- 

 white, perfectly air-dried copra. The cost of 

 such a dryer is put down at ^300 to ^350 

 including the material for the heating pipes, 

 which to save freight and packing is imported 

 in the sheet and bent and riveted locally. 



These kilns have two great disadvantages, 

 they totally preclude the action of the sun in 

 the drying process, and further, it is impossible 

 to attend to the important function of turning 

 or moving about of the meat while it is on 

 the hurdles. This is a serious drawback, as it 

 does not allow of an even or thorough drying. 

 This is why rotary dryers are preferred, as 

 such a system removes all these defects, and 

 their initial extra cost of installation is amply 

 compensated by improved and more even results. 

 There has been one machine installed for drying 

 the copra by means of hot steam, but it does 

 not seem to have proved a success. This is 

 mainly due to the husks being unsatisfactory as 



