Copra and its Preparation 371 



Another great and potent factor for better- 

 ment is the establishment of regular lines of 

 coasting steamers to visit the labyrinth of island 

 groups much more frequently and extensively, 

 On many even very remote islands, Euro- 

 peans have established themselves recently, 

 and are devoting their time and energy with 

 varying success to coco-nut planting. One by 

 one, therefore, the unproductive or neglected 

 spaces of the wide world tend to disappear, 

 and the centres from which supplies are avail- 

 able increase in number and extent. At the 

 same time the goods must come to market, so 

 the European, at least, if not the native, must 

 see that he does not have to spend too large 

 a proportion of the price obtained in transport. 



In some cases, several months, or at least 

 weeks, must often elapse before the planters 

 can hope to get their produce to market, and 

 costs in such cases must be excessive. Under 

 such circumstances it naturally behoves the 

 individual owner or manager to avail himself 

 of the best and most advanced methods for 

 preparing his copra, in order to put it on 

 the market in the best condition possible, so 

 as to assure his obtaining the highest price for 

 one thing, and also to create for his product 

 a favourable and steady demand. All of this 

 is quite feasible with proper circumspection 

 and' care. 



In some centres, to a great extent, the 

 demand for the nuts themselves for export, as 



