476 STANDARD PRODUCTS OF CEYLOX 



usually a prolific bearer. Some of the best varieties of Forastero are 

 "' Cundeamar," "Amelonado," "Verdilico," and '"Cayenne." The "Criollo" 

 type(knovvn in Ceylon as "Caracas" or "Old Ceylon Red"), which is apparently 

 identical with the "Nicaragua," is distinguishable by its smaller, thin-shelled 

 and red pods, with globular seeds which are usually white inside. The 

 "Calabacillo" has usually a small and roundish pod with a smooth skin ; beans 

 flat, dark-purple inside. The "Criollo" variety generally commands the highest 

 price, but the tree is of a delicate nature and liable to disease, as compared with 

 the Forastero type. 



Theobroma pentagona, or ''Alligator Cacao," is a distinct 

 species, introduced at Peradeniya from Trinidad in 1895. The 

 pods are small and have rive prominent ridges ; the seeds are very 

 large, but few, and white in section. It is highly spoken of in 

 Trinidad, but at Peradeniya the tree is a very scanty bearer. 



T. angustifolia. "Monkey Cacao." A remarkable species 

 introduced at Peradeniya in 1895, and fruited for the first time here 

 in 1909. It bears large, hairy, brown and furrowed pods ; the 

 seeds are of no commercial value. 



Cardamoms. See Spices. 

 Cinnamon. See Spices. 



Coconut Palm; " Pol," S. ; "Tennai" or Thenga, T. (Cocos 

 nucifera). To the inhabitants of Ceylon, where it is estimated 

 there are some 900,000 acres under the product, and of other 

 tropical countries where the coconut palm flourishes, this is one of 

 the most important trees of the vegetable kingdom. Though 

 extensively grown in most tropical regions, the original or indi- 

 genous home of the palm is unknown. It thrives best in a moist 

 hot climate, especially near the sea, but will also succeed to a 

 considerable distance inland where the climate is sufficiently hot 

 and moist. In Ceylon, it is cultivated and gives good returns up to 

 1,600 ft. above sea level. Coconut cultivation, together with the 

 preparation of its different products for market, forms a large 

 industry in Ceylon. These include the following, of which very 

 large quantities are exported, viz., copra (the dried inner portion 

 (endocarp) of the nut broken in half, from which oil is obtained), 

 coconut-oil, desiccated coconut (used in confectionery and cooking, 

 and commanding a price of 22 to 25 cents per Ib. locally), coir- 

 fibre from the husks, and whole nuts to the extent of nearly 

 20 million a year. The local uses of the nut, leaves, stem and flowers 

 for cookery and domestic purposes are innumerable, and in some 

 cases almost sufficient to supply the total requirements of the 

 poorer Natives. 



