134 



COCONUTS 



It 1 90 1 and 1902 were the most properous years the island has 

 seen as regards prices realized for its Coconut products, the year 

 [903 has the pre-eminence of having exported the largest amount 

 of all its products within the last ten years, and perhaps even be- 

 fore, Coconuts in the shell, alone being about two millions below 

 the largest number ever exported. The figures are as follows: — 

 Coconut oil cwts. 665,357 ; Copra cwts. 721,575 (cwts. 281,710 

 above the previous highest) ; Desiccated nuts 17,485,369 lbs., nuts 

 in the shell 13,129,346; Rope cwt. 20,638; Yarn cwts. 92,124; 

 Fibre cwts. 132,203. Your best customers have been the United 

 Kingdom, America, Germany, and Russia. The United Kingdom 

 took three fourths of the oil, and most of the yarn and fibre also 1 1 

 million pounds desiccated Coconuts and 9 millions of the Coconuts 

 in shell. Germany is first in Copra and Poonac, and Belgium is a 

 close second in Poonac. These two countries took cwts. 290,750, 

 leaving only cwts. 9,222 for all other countries. Russia is a close 

 second in Copra. America is second in desiccated Coconuts with 

 close on 2 miFion pounds. America is also second in Coconut oil. 

 As usual Singapore took almost all the rope, leaving only cwts. 301 

 out of 20,638. Prices from last year have dropped all round. 

 Coconut oil from Rs. 15.60 to Rs. 13.50 per cwt. Copra from Rs. 

 52 to Rs. 46 per candy. Desiccated nuts from 18 cents to 15 cents 

 per lb. Poonac from Rs. 80 to Rs. 70 per ton. Prices however 

 keep well above those ruling four or five years ago, and may be 

 considered satisfactory in the face of the large increase in output 

 in the different products. The manufacture of Coconut Butter is 

 reported to be well under way, and it is hoped the enterprise will 

 be successful. Your Committee has not Learned that many are cul- 

 tivating the sensitive plant as a nitrogen producer; land owners 

 are on the look-out for some plant less objectionable. A modifica- 

 tion of the Malay States Ordinance for the protection of Coconut 

 from the ravages of the red-beetle might with advantage be intro- 

 duced locally, the black-beetle is in Ceylon practically harmless. 

 The weather as a rule has been favourable and an average yield 

 may be expected. It is useless to try and forecast prices. 



{Extracted from the 50th annual report of the Planters' Associa- 

 tion of Ceylon). 



RAMIE. 



25, Birciiington Road, 

 L West Hampstead, N. W. 



vmbk ESQ., London, February 20th, /goj. 



y$)j^L£o High Commissioner, 

 jiyljH^Y?' Malay States. 



■ . thank you for Agricultural Bulletin No. 1 I 

 K all the points as thev occur to me as I read 



r 



