194 



The Philippine Journal of Science 



1914 



These figures are included not because of great accuracy 

 or exact application to conditions here, but rather to supply 

 all available information regarding a little-understood industry 

 suitable for the Philippine Islands. 



The following table shows the extent and destination of this 

 product : 



Table XI. — Expert of Ceylon desiccated coconut. 



To- 



Shipped in — 



1911 



1912 1913 



United Kingdom 



Tons. 

 7,098 



Tons. Tons. 

 5. 656 6. 339 



Germany. 



2.610 2,723 ' 2,302 

 2,588 2,462 3,787 

 363 603 558 

 273 451 315 

 264 375 3b6 

 195 i 268 237 

 565 1 640 709 



United States. 



Belgium . 



Holland 



Austria _ 



Spain 



Australia. 



Canada _. 



173 303 



373 



Africa — 



101 92 



98 



France . 



70 168 



11> 



New Zealand . _ 



154 150 1 97 



98 ' 64 j 93 1 



Other countries . . . . 



Total __ 



14, 552 13. 965 



15.326 











COIR FIBER 



The manufacture of fiber from coconut husks is another 

 industry well suited to the Philippine Islands, but which has 

 never been exploited here. Its introduction would not only result 

 in utilizing the husks as an added soyrce of profit both to large 

 and small planters, but would at the same time tend to eliminate 

 the harmful practice of burning husks for copra drying. The 

 fire from husks is smoky and much less desirable than that 

 resulting from shells alone, as it produces dark-colored copra 

 of inferior grade. The coir industry is profitable in Ceylon, 

 and gives employment to many women and children, especially 

 since it may be carried on by individual workers during spare 

 hours as well as in a mill equipped with modern machinery. 

 In fact, the best grade fiber is made entirely by native methods. 

 Galle is the center of the native coir manufacture, and a trip 

 through the surrounding country will disclose nearly every 

 family engaged with piles of husks or partially prepared fiber. 

 All the processes employed are simple, even where machinery is 



