THE COOOANUT PALM. 



237 



wheel gearing, di-iving pulleys, &c., the whole complete and supported 

 in a massive cast-iron frame. 



Breaking-down mill, of improved construction, the revolving drum 

 accurately centred on shaft, and fitted with best selected steel " spikes " 

 (so arranged that, if required, any number of these " spikes " may be 

 easily removed, repaired, and replaced), "feed" and "fence" motion, 

 with wheels and hopper gearings, brush fence, and' driving pulleys 

 complete, all mounted on substantial cast-iron frame. 



" Willy " machine, designed and constructed for receiving the fibre 

 from the " breaking-down mill." This machine separates the 

 different qualities of the fibre, and removes all dust, shorts, and 

 refuse, leaving clean fibre. The machine is made in a very substan- 

 tial manner, is self-contained, fitted with all gearing complete, and 

 mounted on strong cast-iron frame. 



Hydraulic press, for baling coir fibre for shipment, of the most 

 improved design, and fitted with pumps and gearing complete. 



Shaftings, pulleys, plummer blocks, bolts, leather belting, &c. 



The following will be the approximate cost delivered in London of 

 the plant, to clean say 7000 to 8000 husks per day : 



£ s. 



One crusher mill 32 



Six breaking-down mills 185 



One Willy machine 39 10 



Superior hydraulic press, with double pumps 



and fittings 230 



Shaftiug, belting, pulleys, &c 70 



Twelve combs, assorted 5 



Eight horse-power high-pressure engine, with 



large boiler 270 



Packing for shipment 27 



The foregoing machines, when all working properly, and with nuts 

 of good quality, should produce from 32 to 85 cwts. of fibre, and 7 to 

 8 cwts. of brush fibre per day of ten hours. 



One thousand husks of average size and good quality prepared by 

 this machinery should produce 4^ to 6^ cwts. of fibre, and about 

 1 cwt. of brush fibre. 



It is assumed that " soaking tanks " of wood or brickwork in 

 cement can be made on the spot, and used in place of iron tanks, and 

 therefore these are omitted in this estimate. 



The cost of a single " breaking-down mill " will be found from the 

 price given in above estimate for six machines. 



Considering the wide-spread range of this palm, it is strange that 

 the import of cocoanut oil has made such little progress compared 

 with its great rival, the African oil palm. One reason may possibly 

 be that the fruit is more generally used for food, and for the refresh- 

 ing drink in the nuts when young. The cocoanut palm is cultivated 

 in great abundance on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts, Ceylon, 

 the Laccadives, and everywhere in the Straits Settlements, and the 

 islands of the Eastern Archipelago. In the Madras Presidency there 

 are no less than 218,000 acres under cocoanuts. 



In the West Indies, Central America, and Brazil, the cocoanut is 

 extensively grown ; there are groves of it for about 280 miles along 



