( 43 ) 
As a general rule, it will be found that the sap has 
a low percentage of sugar, if obtained from palms 
yielding a large volume, while that obtained from 
palms giving a small volume has a high sugar con- 
tent. The period over which any particular spathe 
will yield sap varies from two to six months. 
It would appear that the most satisfactory way of 
estimating yields is on the daily sugar content. 
The mean yield of sugar of a number of palms 
selected at random has been found to be between 
6 and 7 ounces per palm per day. A conservative 
estimate of the annual yield of sugar per acre, based 
on a sugar content of 6 ounces per day, with 100 
spathes in tapping at any one time*, and 300 tap- 
ping days per annum, amounts to nearly 9,000 lbs. 
of sugar per acre per annum. This is equivalent 
theoretically to a yield of absolute alcohol of over 
1,100 gallons per acre per annum. 
At present, nearly all nipah in this country is in 
the wild state, little having been planted systema- 
tically. Systematic planting has been effected only 
by natives, by whom the palm is used for making 
attaps. 
The work so far carried out, and the results obtained 
in this country, are based on observations of nipah 
palms growing in “ kampong ” or small-holdings ; it 
is possible that, when the palms are growing in 
the conditions of a plantation, various factors will 
modify considerably the yields of sugar produced. 
* It is assumed that about 200-300 palms per acre is the 
correct number, so that the above estimate is based 
on only one spathe on every other palm being in tapping 
at any time; whereas it is an established fact that a 
palm may have three spathes in tapping at any one 
time, whilst some have been found with as many as 
ten fruit-heads at one time. 
