182 The Philippine Journal of Science 1914 



products. The relativelj' low yield of the latter is well known, a 

 decrease of 10 per cent, based on fresh kernel, not being unusual. 

 The process of desiccating coconut will be taken up in detail under 

 this heading; suffice here to state that drying is accomplished 

 in less than an hour, as compared with the several days needed 

 for drying copra. 



The decrease in time required for expelling the water is, 

 therefore, coincident with increased loss of oil, and all methods 

 of preparing copra must represent an economical balance be- 

 tween these factors. It is unquestionably possible to make copra 

 in much less time than is required by either the sundrying or 

 grill-drying processes, but experiments made by planters in 

 Ceylon have not impressed them with the advisability of adopt- 

 ing such changes. One of the most progressive coconut planters 

 in the island constructed a drying house with brick heating 

 flues, and produced paper-white copra in less than twenty-four 

 hours, but discontinued the process because of the resulting high 

 loss of oil. It is his opinion that a continuous slow current 

 of air at from about 54° to 60° (130° to 140° F.)— the proper 

 temperature to be determined by experiment — should complete 

 the drying process within three days and nights, and with the 

 least loss of oil. A rapid drying in ten hours must be attended 

 by a considerable loss, and will require about 15 per cent more 

 kernel to produce a given weight of copra. 



Ceylon copra is graded in four qualities: "Kalpentyn," re- 

 presenting the best produced, followed by "estate," "Maravila" 

 (ordinary), and "common" or "cart." Kalpentyn copra is 

 grown nearly as far north as Jaffna, in a dry locality, and this 

 climatic condition is generally supposed to produce an oil of 

 lighter color. Estate copra, as its name indicates, is made from 

 nuts grown upon estates under careful supervision. The ripe 

 nuts are selected by competent natives, and are sundried, grill 

 dried, or prepared by a combination of both. This preparation 

 is superintended by a competent man, either connected with the 

 estate or provided for the purpose by dealers who have already 

 purchased the crop on the trees. Cart copra is a general name 

 applied to the product purchased, piece by piece, from small 

 producers scattered throughout the island. The dealer drives 

 along with a bullock cart, and buys whatever is offered, fre- 

 quently in lots not exceeding the production from one or two 

 trees. The result is naturally a product that commands a lower 

 price than the preceding. 



