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margin of error. The weighings were made at the Kuala Lumpur 
Experimental Plantation. I am indebted to Mr. F. G. Spring, Super- 
intendent of Government Plantations, for the recording of them. 
Cost of Collection. 
In the Annual report of the Department of Agriculture, 
Federated Malay States, for 1908, the late Mr, Carruthers estimated 
that the seeds could be collected here for 4 cents (i-ld) per 1,000. 
In Ceylon it was estimated by Messrs. Macmillan and Petch that the 
cost of collecting 1,000 seeds was 4d. 
Accordingly on three. separate occasions this_ year the seeds were 
left to accumulate under our 12 years old trees for a week. Children 
earning 18 cents per day were put on to collecting them with the 
following results: — 
i. 4,200 seeds were gathered at the rate of cts. 3.21 per 1,000. 
ii. 5,000 „ „ ft 3- 1 5 >- 
iii. 4,500 „ ,, » 3- 18 » 
On a larger plantation, if the children could be put on piece work, 
I have little doubt that it would be easy to c dlect the seeds at 3 cts. 
(0.84d.) per 1,000. An estimate of one penny per thousand would 
therefore be on the safe side. Why the cost should be so much 
higher in Ceylon is difficult to say, the abundance of the seed harvest 
and the frequency of collection would make large differences. 
Weight of Seeds and Kernels. 
Another diherence of opinion existed as to the number of seeds 
that would be required to produce one ton of kernels. Mr. Carruthers 
estimated 414,000 seeds to the ton while Messrs. Macmillan and 
Petch* placed the number at 700,000 at least. Their figures, however, 
refers to dried seeds while Mr. Carruthers’ were for fresh ones. As- 
Mr. Carruthers’ figures were based on the weighings of only 12 seeds, 
his results were open to criticism on that score. 
Three separate lots of two thousand seeds were decorticated and 
the weights of the kernels and shells taken separately 
No. of seeds. Weight of kernels. 
2,000 10 lbs. 10% ozs. 
2,000 10 „ 2% „ 
2,000 10 „ II 
Weight of shells. Total Wt. 
6 lbs. 3% ozs. 16 lbs. 14% ozs. 
6 „ 4V2 tt 16 lbs. 7 ozs. 
6 „ 4 H „ 16 lbs. 15% ozs. 
Average weight of 1,000 kernels 5 lbs. 4 ozs. 
„ „ 1,000 shells 3 „ 2 „ 
These were all from tapped trees, 12 years old. 
It will be noticed that the weight of the shells is fairly uniform, 
while that of the kernels varies somewhat. In calculating the 
weights of kernels from the total weights, it will be safer therefore 
to deduct 3% lbs. for every 1,040 shells, than to assume a propor- 
Circulars of the Royal Botanic Garden, Ceylon, Vol. iv. No. II, May 1908. 
