( 40 ) 
the bunches of fruit do not appear simultaneously, 
but the young palms may have fruit and inflores- 
cence in different stages at' the same time. 
The average number of fruits to a bunch is about 
two hundred, so that, on the average, a palm pro- 
duces six hundred fruits (three bunches) per annum, 
yielding seven and a half katis of dried nuts. The 
yield of prepared nuts should be fifty one pikuls 
per acre per annum, on the basis of six hundred 
and eighty trees per acre. 
Preparation . — The fruits, which are collected when 
ripe, consist of a thick outer husk of coarse fibre 
enclosing the nut. It is very difficult to separate 
nut from husk when the fruit is gathered, but, 
when dry, this can be done quite easily. The 
natives classify the finished product according to 
the methods of preparation, which are is follows : — 
Pinang blah— In the preparation of “ Pinang blah/' 
the fruits are split in two parts and spread out, 
split side upwards, in the sun. The nut is removed 
easily after two or three days. Care must be taken 
to protect the fruits from rain, otherwise their value 
will be impaired. The husks are used as fuel by 
those who prepare “Pinang salai.” The nuts are 
dried thoroughly and placed in sacks for the market. 
Most of the nuts in the Muar district are prepared 
in this way. 
Pinang mossi . — The fruits are placed in heaps to 
dry and the heaps are turned occasionally during 
three months, by which time the husk is easily 
removed; the nuts are then dried and packed, but 
are inferior in quality to “Pinang blah/' 
