556 OLEAGINOUS PLANTS. 



There are now an immense number of coco-nut topes, or walks, 

 on the coasts of the island, and about 20,000 acres of land are 

 under cultivation with this tree. 



The value of this product to Ceylon, may be estimated by the 

 following return of its exports in 1847, besides the local con- 

 sumption : 







Declared value of nuts 5,485 



Ditto of Coir 10,318 



Kernels, or Copperah 6,503 



Shells 210 



Oil 19,142 



Arrack 11,657 



Total 53,315 



The annually increasing consumption of the nuts holds out a 

 great inducement to the native proprietors to reclaim all their 

 hitherto unproductive land. The fruit commands a high price in 

 the island, (ranging from f d. to 3d. per nut), owing to the constant 

 demand for it as an article of food, by both Singhalese and Mala- 

 bars ; there is not so much, therefore, now converted into copperah 

 for oil making. In the maritime provinces of the island, it has 

 been estimated that the quantity of nuts used in each family, say 

 of five persons, amounts to 100 nuts per month, or 1,000 per 

 annum. It needs only a reduction in the cost of transit, to extend 

 the consumption in the interior of the island to an almost un- 

 limited extent. 



In 1842, Ceylon exported but 550 nuts, while in 1847 she 

 shipped off to other quarters three millions and a half of nuts, valued 

 at 5,500. The average value of the nuts exported may be set 

 down at 7,000. 



In Cochin China the cultivation of the coco-nut tree is much 

 attended to, and they export a large quantity of oil. At Malacca 

 and Pinang it shares attention with the more profitable spices. 

 Since the palm has been acclimatised in Bourbon, about 20,000 

 kilogrammes of oil have been produced annually. About 8,000 

 piculs of oil are exported annually from Java. 



A correspondent, under date December, 1849, has furnished 

 me with the following particulars of coco-nut planting in Jaffna, 

 the northern district of Ceylon, in which the culture has only 

 recently been carried on ; the facts and figures are interesting : 



The Karandhai estate, the property of the late Mr. J. Bylcs, was sold last 

 month for 2,400, part of it bearing. It consisted of 303 acres, of which 228 

 are planted with coco nuts about half the trees six years old. 



The Victoria estate, in extent 170 acres, planted and part in bearing, and 

 about seventy acres of jungle, was also sold for 1,500. Mr. G. Dalrymple 

 was the purchaser of the latter, and Mr. Davidson of the former. Both lots 

 were cheap. The properties are among the best in the district, the latter, 

 especially, is a beautiful estate. 



About two-thirds of the estates planted are looking well, and the remainder 

 but indifferently, in fact, ought never to have been planted, and I believe will 

 never give any return. About 7,000 acres are now under cultivation hero, and 

 clearing is still going on. Estates can now be put in for about ouo half what 



