245 
It would probably be possible to avoid the loss arising 
through the palm oil remaining in the fibres. Its recovery 
perhaps by a process of extraction—does not pay with small 
quantities. If it could be recovered the total yield of palm oil 
would be increased by 4 per cent., 7.e., to 164 per cent. 
The question of varieties has not yet been made sufficiently 
clear. Very important too is an improved method of cultiva- 
tion in respect to distance in planting, the restriction of such 
intermediate crops as seriously exhaust the soil, and the 
avoidance of burning in the plantation. 
The utilization of palm oil in the manufacture of edible fats 
only becomes feasible if its acidity is below 8 per cent.; an 
improvement in the quality of native palm oil from 23 to 18, 
or even 14, per cent. would not suffice. 
It is very interesting to note that in Nigeria palm oil is 
forwarded from the south to the north; it will be the same 
on the construction of a Northern Togo railway line. 
THE PHILIPPINE COCONUT INDUSTRY. 
By O. W. Barrett, 
Chie}, Division of Horticulture, Bureau of Agriculture, 
Philippine Islands. 
[ ApsTrRact. ] 
The following aspects of the Philippine coconut industry 
were briefly discussed: The reason for the extreme difficulty 
experienced in purchasing Philippine coconut plantations. The 
““cacique’’ system was explained, and the faulty title system 
of land holding was discussed and illustrations of this given. 
Reasons for the low quality of Philippine copra were dis- 
cussed, the long rainy season in the principal coconut belt 
rendering sun-drying very precarious during most of the 
year, thus bringing about extensive use of the tapahan, or 
smoke kiln; the short-sighted policy of Chinese traders and 
European agents in the field, who pay as much for poor half- 
dried copra as for the good article, being also to blame in a 
measure for this execrable custom. 
Reasons for the limited quantity of copra exported from the 
Philippines were given: Too close planting, use of the very 
large number of trees in oil and ‘‘ vino’ production being 
the principal factors. 
A résume of the present status of copra, prices of copra, oil, 
and “‘tuba,”’ and statistics of production were given. 
A few remarks on the labour question and its peculiar dis- 
advantages in the Philippines. 
