cocoxrr 



477 



Copni is usually dried in the sun or in specially constructed low 

 houses or kilns, over the smoke and heat caused by smouldering 

 tires made with the husks and shells. Forced hot air-driers are now 

 used for the purpose, the copra shells being placed on movable trays; 

 it is claimed that the copra is thus dried in 15 hours. The annual 

 export of copra from Ceylon amounts to some 800,000 cwt., which 

 usually fetches, according to quality and demand, from about 18to 

 26 per ton, or Rs. 70 to Rs. 85* per candy ; and of desiccated 

 coconut about 14,000 tons. From 1,200 to 1,400 nuts usually go to a 



COCONUT PALMS (CoCOS Illtcifcm), IX CEYLON. 



candy of copra, and 4 candies make a ton. The extraction of the 

 sweet juice from the base of the flowering spathe, obtained by inci- 

 sion and tapping, constitutes a large local industry. This juice un- 

 fermented, known as toddy, forms a pleasant sweet beverage ; 

 fermented and then distilled, it yields arrack an alcoholic liquor 

 consumed by the poorer as well as by many of the better classes. 

 The best and healthiest trees are selected for the purpose of toddy 

 drawing. Tapping for toddy may continue from 5 to 9 months, 

 according to the climate, and the yield of the liquid may be from 

 100 to 180 gallons per tree in that period. The extraction of toddy 



* The ruling price in Ceylon at present is Rs. 106 < 28) per ton, which is a record. August, 1913. 



