6o8 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



the close of 1912, or the beginning of this 

 year, Mr. Saleeby estimates that a hectare of 

 land in the Philippines, planted to kapok under 

 seven years of age, will yield 800 to 900 kilos 

 of seed per year, valued at P. 28 to P. 31.56 

 (P. = 2s. ojd.). At the same time a very wide 

 divergence is encountered in yields, both in 

 the number of pods to the trees (350 to 400 

 and even 600 pods in extreme cases) and 

 .the yield of floss per pod (150 up to 300 

 pods = i kilo floss, with a probable average 

 of 230 pods to the kilo). The judicious selec- 

 tion of seed from uniform pods will un- 

 doubtedly increase the average yield of floss 

 in the pods. On the above basis a hectare 

 planted in kapok and containing 280 trees 

 (about no to the acre) ought to yield 98,000 

 to i 12,000 pods, which at the rate of 230 pods 

 to the kilo will yield 420 to 480 kilos of clean 

 kapok per year. From the seventh to the 

 tenth year a hectare should yield about 640 

 kilos. The harvesting is troublesome ; many 

 let the pods ripen and drop, but this is not 

 good. Owing to the weakness of the branches, 

 especially between their middle bend points, 

 they are practically inaccessible, and the pods 

 can best be gathered by knives attached to 

 long poles. To know when the pods are ripe 

 requires experience. Before ripening they are 

 of a light green colour, with a smooth surface, 

 whilst as soon as they ripen they turn light 

 brown, and the surface becomes somewhat 



