749 



a, day being the average for one man in Malaya (Coglilan 

 " Coco-nut Industry in Malaya," p. 30) or 1000 "in the West 

 Indies (I.e.) An average jdeld may be taken as from 40-50 nuts 

 per tree per annum. As showing the progress that might be 

 expected in a plantation the experience on the estate at Nevis 

 above referred to shows, briefly, began in the autumn of 1907, 

 number of nuts planted up to the end of 1011 amounted to 

 10,305—28 ft. apart or 52 to the acre; certain trees commenced 

 to bear in 1911, and in greater quantity in 1913 when the 1907 

 plants were 5 J years old. From January 11th, 1913, to June 

 30th, 1914, the number of nuts harvested was 23,807. From 

 January 11th to October 23rd a 4 in. gauge was used giving 

 77-4 per cent, of selects and 22-6 per cent, of culls— both 

 selects and culls sent to New York where the market took both 

 grades as select, paying $42.50 for 1000, about the highest 

 price paid for coconuts in that city— from October 23rd a 3| in. 

 gauge (I in. larger than the Malay regulation gauge of 3| in ) 

 and of 75,116 nuts gathered, 68,419 or 91-08 per cent, were 



select " [above 3| in.] and 6,697 or 8-92 per cent, were " culls " 

 fless than 3| in. on the New York market]. A selection made 

 m the field of the nuts while in the husk has been found to give 

 «5-98 per cent, over the 3| in. gauge when husked (Kew Bull. 

 1915 p. 75). In Malaya the generally adopted estimate is given 

 on the average as 10 nuts per tree per annum at the end of the 

 6th year, 30— 7th year, 40— 8th year and 50— succeeding years 

 <Coghlan, I.e. p. 32). The standard number of nuts to a 

 ton IS 4000 (I.e.). In Malaya there is also a dwarf variety 



Nymrgadmg," remarkable for its early fruiting, in from 3-4 

 years, height 10 ft., and accordingly convenient for planting 

 about 90 to the acre ; but the nuts are smaller than the ordinarv 



making the yield 



Agric. Bull. Fed. 



Malay States, Sept.^Oct. 1919, pp. 295-297). There are also 

 -several varieties and many forms in various parts of the 

 world, the yields of which may vary in proportion to their 

 individual characters. The " Copra " may be sun-dried, smoke- 

 dned or prepared in special dryers. " After the removal of the 

 fibre the nuts are split across the middle with a strong knife ; the 

 milk ' is emptied out and the half nuts are exposed to the sun 

 ior some days to dry ; during the drying the kernel shrinks from 

 the shell and the half-kernels are then removed from each half 

 nut; these half -kernels are then spread out in the sun in 

 single layers and turned over frequently until they are completely 

 dry " (N. Nig. Gaz. Suppl.No. 10, 1911,p. 284). It is important 

 that the dried produce be kept free from moulds. 



The oil is expressed by special machinery and that which is 

 prepared in this country is known as " C6pra Oil." The percentage 



f A' ^^^^^*^ ^^^^s ^^^^^ ^^-^^ according to the amount 

 of drying the kernel has undergone. " Two hundred pounds of 

 copra should produce approximately 124 lb. of oQ and 74 lb 

 of cake" (U.S. Mon. Cons. Rep. Aug. 1904; Agric. News 



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