Nov. 1, 1902.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
325 
WASTE PRODUCTS ; 
AKE COIR DUST AND COCONUT 'WATER.' 
USELESS ? 
The extent to \A'hich waste products re- 
garded as useless a lew years ago, arejnow 
utilised in a variety of ways, in each succeed- 
ing branch of industry, is nothing short of 
marvellous ; and we are hopeful that every 
year will add to our knowledge of the 
latent possibilities oE much that is even 
still being thrown away. Now that the 
Messrs, Bohringer are in the market for tea 
refuse, no part of the outturn of upcountry 
Factories need be thrown away — or, what 
is even worse, s^jld to a class of people 
who will bring it into competition with 
what is avowedly sold for human con- 
sumption, and of which, alas 1 the markets 
seem to have too much. But, it is in respect 
of the products of the Coconut Palm, not 
withstanding their proverbial tliousand 
uses, that there seems to be special room 
for the work of the inventive genius ; and, 
with a staff of skilled scientific workors 
connected with the Botanic Gardens— the 
Agricultural Department of the Govern- 
ment — it should not be left to out- 
siders to show what can be done with 
our " waste products.'' Analysis, for instance, 
has shown that the hu^k of the coconut 
is rich in potash ; and yet coir dust, the 
residue after the removal of the fibre of 
commerce from the husk, is i-egarded as 
useless, save as an absorbent or deodorizer, 
and is allowed to rise mountains high in the 
vicinity of Coir Mills where the dust occupies 
valuable space and must be a menace to 
public health. Is it of no manurial value ? 
And can it not be made cf value as a 
manure by the action of fire, or of 
chemicals? Our German cousins are, perhaps, 
ahead of anj^ other nation in turning to prac- 
tical use, their knowledge of chemistry ; ami, 
if all we read be true, they have sounded the 
death-knell of the indigo industry on the ad- 
joining continent. As manure manufacturers 
they may be able to point the way in the 
directicm we have indicated ; but meanwhile 
we hear of an interesting experiment for the 
conversion of coir dust into fuel in the form 
ot bricks by pressure, a two-fo'd possibility 
unfolds itself to our vision. Not only may 
the resulting ashes prove highly efficacious 
as a manure; but there is also the chance 
that high pressure may disclose more pro- 
fitable uses than fuel for the brick, and 
lead to the adoption of the hardened block 
or building and manufacturing purposes ? 
Another waste product is the water of 
ripe coconuts which are split every year 
in Ceylon to the total of hundreds of 
millions tor domestic use, for copra drying, 
and for desiccating purposes. The water of 
the young coconut is a delicious and refresh- 
ing drink. When the nut is ripe, the water 
is sharper in taste and smacks of toddy. 
Is it absolutely useless for the distillation 
of spirits, for the manufacture of sugar and 
jaggery, and even as a manure ? Analysis 
shows that it contains 1'64 per cent of sugar 
■28 gum, '06 phosphate of lime, '10 chloruret 
9f sodivim, 'Si acotate of \im^ aad of potash 
•08 pectic acid, "16 albumine. Are the consti- 
tuents too small to ho of nny practical value, 
considering that tlie water might wellbe col- 
lected in hundreds of gallons every d.i y ? Not 
very long ago the ashes from Woolwich 
sirseual were used simp'y to lill ui) hollows ; an 
observant neighbour was regarded as a public 
benefactor when he offered to take all the 
stuff at Si 4d per ton. A policeman or a 
watcher, moi-e alert than most Government 
servants, observed copper filings being re- 
moved from the heaps. He confided the 
secret to his superior officers who thought: 
they might try the experiment of selling 
the refuse by auction or by tender. The 
result was £6 a ton ! A big leap from 3s 4d 
and yielding £10,000 a year. It is estimated 
that official ."shortsightedness is responsible 
for the loss of quite a quarter million ster- 
ling at Woolwich through ashes alone. Re- 
turning to our own island, we are ready 
to forget and forgive past los.ses if only 
we are let into the secret of making a pro- 
fitable use of Coir Dust and Coconut Water! 
ORANGE CULTIVATION IN EGYPT. 
There is no donbt but that the cultivation of 
oranges ia a far too neglected branch ot horticultare 
in Egypt-, which has been especially recomrnended by 
experts as one of the best sniie l .^pots for the e.3. 
tabliahment of a garden for oranges and other fruits 
oE its class. Although much progress has recently 
been made in its cultivation in this country, there 
is still room for much greater extension. At present 
the export of oranges only amounts to about one 
eleventh of the import, and, fortunately for those in 
the orange trade, the fruit comes in at kbe same time 
of the year as the annual influx of visitors, much to 
their mutual satisfaction. The "Yussuf Eiiendi " ia 
the variety most extensively grown hare. These are 
mostly sold locally or at neighb iniing large towns at 
a fair price. Although a nicc4y fl ivoured and aatis- 
f ictory fruit, it has been cultivated too exclnsiTely. 
The small variety, sold in England as Tangeriness, 
fetch about the same price as the best Jaffas. They 
should prove very remunerative to growers here for 
export. Belonging to the same loose-skinned group 
are the "Nagpore" of Bomb.iy and " Sylhet " of 
Calcutta. Both of these are grown very largely in 
India and are very ratich alik;. Tiie "Najpore" tree 
is a spreading variety while the ''Sylhot" is an up- 
right tree, grows higher, and is only grown from seed. 
Both are excellent varieties for export<,tion. Two 
other varieties which should do well here are the 
"Snatolah ' and the "Keonia," The former orange 
ia very sra lU but extremely sweet. It grows aim jst 
wild in the hit, humid part of India between 
the Himilayaj and th 1 Ginges. It should be 
suitable for tho5e pirts of E.jypt or ths Sudan which 
have a similar climate ; but should, ot course, be triad 
in any part which can be kept well supplied with 
water throughout the ye*r. Naturally, it requires 
very little attention, .^s novelties are always accep- 
table in English markets, and as it is sweet almost 
before it is quite yellow, it promises well. Tha 
*' Koonia," another Indian orange, is to be greatly 
recommended on account of its lateness. On com- 
paring one of these trees with the '' Yussuf Effendi '' 
one would imagine that as both oranges were of tha 
same hue and size they would both be ripe. This, 
however, is not so. Long after the other oranges h iva 
baen gathered the " Keonia '' stays on the tree until 
at last its colour is a beautiful dark red, and not till 
then is it sweet. Ot course, in Ei»vpt, thi^ should ba 
ready for gathering just as the " Yussuf Effendi " is 
over and when the " Portugal" is dearest, ai about the 
end of April, iMaay othoc varieties of UiQ Saatare^ 
