34 
the opening up of new estates, the extension of existing properties, 
and the coming into bearing of other young ones, the output is yearly 
■•rowing larger, and it is a question whether the very considei able in 
crease in prices anticipated by many planters will be realised. 
The year has seen considerable activity in the planting up of 
coconuts in the F.M.S., and there are still big Companies, we under- 
stand on the eve of being brought forward. A number of new Com- 
panieL were formed during the year in Ceylon to develop coconuts m 
the Straits and the shares were received with considerable favour. 
The suitability of parts of the F.M.S. for coconut planting ^ now be- 
yond dispute, as coconuts reach the production stage theie in the sixth 
vear In future, the F.M.S. will undoubtedly be a factor in regulating 
the prices of coconut products. Ceylon brains and money pioneered 
the rubber industry in the Straits, and are doing the same for the 
coconut industry, and, we trust, with the same success and material 
advantage. 
The advantages of manuring are becoming more apparent every 
vear and last vear it was taken up to a greater extent on coconut pro- 
perties in Ceylon than ever before. There is no plant which re s PO nds 
more readily to manuring than the coconut, and we. are told that 
planters frequently obtain double or even treble the number of nuts i as i a 
St of careful treatment of the soil in this way In jewing the 
business in coconut, there must also be considered the fan that he 
nrmulation is growing, and that, with the increased cost of living, the 
^ t'nn nf roconuts bv the natives has increased considerably, 
c” 7e moSStant item of produce in the coconuts industry 
must be regarded as having had a very profitable year, considering Ac 
oTcoconut 0 tfisTSdic^ n ScitVoTcmton d "which would neces- 
products was well maintained during the year. 
FUNTUMIft ELASTICA. 
There are two ways of tapping this tree for latex Le„ the excision 
and the incision systems. 
By the excision method deep cuts as far f *L“are opened! 
made, while by the incision system only shallow 
just deep enough to allow the latex to tun down t " e ‘ ee 
are then made into these channels by means of a pnc . 
