Alcohol from Coco-nut Palms 547 



extracting the sap is very simple, consisting 

 of the native puncturing each tree, and drawing 

 off the liquid in bamboo measures, day by day, 

 this operation lasting for about an average 

 of seventy days annually with each tree. Of 

 course, the process of extraction can be carried 

 on practically all the year, because different 

 trees may be used in the same tract, thus 

 keeping up the business all the year round. 



The figures from the yield of one hectare, 

 by a series of measurements, show that from 

 2,000 nipa trees sufficient sap may be drawn to 

 produce 10,428 kilos of sugar (say 10^ tons) 

 of 96 per cent, polarization. At 16 centavos 

 per kilo, a fair average value, this would bring 

 a gross income of i, 668 '48 pesos, from which 

 the expenses must naturally be deducted. 



Reference has been made principally to the 

 nipa trees, but in addition there are also three 

 other varieties of trees, the coco-nut, buri, and 

 sugar palms, all of which produce sap suitable 

 for sugar. The advantage of the transporta- 

 tion of sap over that of the heavy sugar-cane 

 to the mills is, of course, plainly obvious, since 

 the labourer merely steps from his banca to 

 the shore, extracts the sap, pours his bamboo 

 measures into some larger receptacle in the 

 banca, and paddles away to the mills, one man ' 

 being all that is necessary for the operation, 

 and the building of railroads, as needed in the 

 case of sugar-cane, being unnecessary for trans- 

 portation purposes. 



