134 
COCONUTS. 
If 1901 and 1902 were the most properous years the island has 
seen as regards prices realized for its Coconut products, the year 
1903 has the pre-eminence of having exported the largest amount 
of ail 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 mil'ion 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 candv. Desiccated nuts from f8 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 Malav 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 foth annual report of the Planters Associa- 
tion of Ceylon). 
RAMIE. 
25, Birchington Road, 
West Hampstead, N. W. 
Oliver Marks, Esq., London, February 20th , 1904. 
Secretary to High Commissioner , 
Federated Malay States. 
Sir — I have to thank you for Agricultural Bulletin No. ri 
Vol. I I. I will answer all the points as they occur to me as l read 
