April 2, 1900.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
701 
CEYLON .COCONUT PALM INDUSTRY 
AND EXPORTS : 
PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. 
In reviewing the exports of coconut palm 
produce for last year, we calculated that 
they represented a falling-oti: of the equiva- 
lent of about 59 million nuts, as compared 
with 1898 ; and that represented in value about 
1? million rupees. We are not surprised, 
therefore, that the Horrekelly [Coconut 
Estates] Company, which declared a divi- 
dend of six per cent for 1898, was able 
to divide only five per cent among its 
shareholders for 1899. As good coconut 
property is believed to yield larger returns 
than are indicated by these dividends, we 
gather from the summary of proceedings 
sent to us for publication, that the Directors 
are to consider whether means cannot be 
adopted by better manuring, to increase the 
yield of the plantation. Meanwhile, we ob- 
serve that there has been an improvement 
in the exports during the past two months ; 
and we have been making inquiries to ascer- 
tain whether this improvement generally, 
can be expected to continue, with the result 
noted down as follows for the information 
of our readers. 
In the first place, no safe deduction, can 
be made from the figures for the first two 
months of the year. The prices offered for 
nuts and copra at the end of last year were 
not such as to favour large transactions ; and 
with the season of short crops on, holders 
were not in a hurry to part with what they 
had in hand. Then the South African War 
had a disturbing effect o'l trade gener.xUy, 
and on the freight market in particular. 
Much of the coconut produce sent forward, 
so far, this year probably represents last 
year's crop ; and it will not be safe to calcu- 
late on a continuance of the excess over last 
year's figures which tlie export tables shew. 
The decrease last year, as compared with 
the previous year, was largely due to the 
two droughts in February-March and June- 
July, which told seriously on crops. But the 
effects of those rainless months are indicated 
only partially in last year's outturn of crop. 
This year's crops, too, must show a falling- 
off, as it takes almost a year for a nut to 
set and mature ;. and the effects of the June- 
July drought will be felt in the crops to be 
picked till the middle of this year. To add 
to the trouble, the North-East rains have 
been sc.inty, and complaints are rife of the 
severity of the drought now prevailing to- 
wards the Madampe and other coconut 
growing districts. Under these circum- 
stances we fear, not only that no ex- 
cess over last year's outturn of coconut 
palm produce is to be expected ; but even 
that there will be a positive falling-off from 
the not too satisfactory exports of last 
year — unless young plantations just coming 
into bearing add materially to the year's 
outturn of crop. It is of interest to note 
the increase over last year which the exports 
for the past two and half months show. 
To take the figuioa xip to 12th instant,— of 
coconut oil there has been sent away as 
much as 90,572 cwts, which is in excess 
of the quantity shown in any of the three 
years past, and nearly treble that for 
1897. So with copra: 87,901 cwt is close 
upon double the figures for the last two 
years which witnessed a revival of the trade, 
and nearly nine times the exports for 
the corresponding period of 1897. High 
prices ruling for copra explain the rapid 
pushmg forward of supplies. In desiccated 
coconut, however, there is a decrease of 
about 78,000 lb. compared with tlie same date 
(12th March) of 1899, when 1,781,790 lb. were 
sent off; but this quantity is 358,849 1b. 
less than that for 1898. Coconuts in the 
shell, too, for which high prices prevail, 
number over 1,872,0(X) "against 1,120,000 
exported last year, and nearly 1,733,000 in 
the year before. If our apprehension 
that this year's crop of coconuts will 
fall short of last year's crop prove true, 
better prices than last year's should prevail, 
if the demand, as is likely, continues brisk. 
—Since the foregoing was written we have 
cheering accounts of a break in the drought ; 
but we fear much damage to crops has al- 
ready been done, especially in the Northern 
Districts. 
THE USE OF NETTLE FIBRE. 
Tlie American Consul at Glauchau (Germany) 
reports that nettle fibre has of late come greatly 
into favour in the manufacture of fine yarns and 
tissues. In Germany, there are factories which 
ui^e these libres botli in spinnintr and also for 
ulterior purposes. In nettle spitiniij^ iilone, over 
10,000 spindles .and soi'ie hundred woiknien are 
employed. The raw material is imported almost 
exclusively from China, whence 661,500 to 802,000 
pounds are annually sent to Germany. Nettle 
fibre produces one of the finest tissues obtainable 
from any known kind of vegetable fibre, and in view 
of the importance which this seems likely to 
attain in connection with the weaving industries, 
it is intended to introduce the cultivation of 
nettles, if possible, into the Cameroons. The idea 
is to prepare the products of this experimental 
culture at the place where they are obtained, 
and test them in German factories. Should 
favourable results follow from the^e experiments, 
it is intended to organise nettle-growing enter- 
prises on an extensive scslIq.— Indian Review 
March.) 
Planting and the Indian Currency.— 
Mr. John Logan, in t\\Q Madras Mail, backs 
up Mr, R. H, Elliot as to the evil effects 
on planting (coffee especially) of the new 
currency. Here is the comparison :— 
Land went up to fabulous prices, as liigh as 
R200 per acre being given at public auction for 
forest land. Prices were good and money flowed 
freely into the country, and the revenue went 
up by leaps and bounds. In the labour market, 
the demand was far in excess of the supply, 
which was scarce and dear. This happened 
before our Government began to tinker with the 
currency. What is the obverse of the picture 
now after we have had four or five years of a 
sound and stable currency ? Prices of land and 
produce have gone down lower than they have 
been for years. 1 have seen good land sold at 
less than R5 per acre. Labour has been so plenti- 
ful that the best Canarese coolies have been 
driven from the door, and of course, is cheaper. 
The coffee industry in the hands of the natives 
has collapsed, while the voice of the rich sowoar 
is silent in the land, 
