The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1884-10-08


which either kills or disperses the
beetles. When the trees have arrived
at maturity and are bearing fruit, the
nuts must be left on the tree until bv
their own ripening they fall off; they are
then collected, and the outer covering or
husk removed. This is accomplished
by men who use in the Operation an iron
spike on knife fastened to stick fixed
in the ground upon which they strike
the nut until the husk is removed: an
experienced man will do this in three
blows. The inner nut is then broken in
two, by a heavy knife, spread out in the
sun and left to dry until the inside pulp
becomes detached from the shell and falls
out naturally. The pulp has now
greasy or oily appearance, and is ready
for crushing by the mill, the water which
it contains having been evaporated by
the action of the sun, leaving only the
oil remaining.
To extract this oil there are several
kinds OF machines and presses in use,
worked by steam and horse power, ac-
cording to the size required. The price
of these machines vary with their power
and construction, but can be seen in the
catalogue of any manufacturer of ma
chlnery For those, however, who have
not capital to erect extensive machinery,
an easy plan, which answers very well,
can be adopted to extract the oil from the
pulp. Take the trunk of large hard
wood tree and sink it well into the ground
leaving about three feet out Then hol-
low it, mortar-shaped, to dept OF about
three feet, and make small hole at the
bottom of the side to allow the oil ex-
pressed from the kernels to flow into re-
ceptacle sunk into the ground to receive
it. A pestle must then be constructed,
likewise of hard wood, to fit the mortar.
1t is then placed in the mortar with its
end resting in socket sustained by cross
beams; beam is now attached to the
pestle, to which horse or bullock can
be fastened to drive it. By this means
the pulp placed in the mortar is thoroughly
saturated, and the oil fore ed out of it |
into the receptacle beneath. The oil is
allowed to stand for awhile to permit any
impurities to subside, and then casked
ready for market.
The kernel of the cocoanut contains |
more than 20 per cent of oil, which is an
important article OF commerce, being |
much employed in Europe, particularly |
in the manufacture of sterine candles, |
and also of a marine soap which forms
lather with sea water. AS much as a |
quart of oil may be obtained from seven
or eight nuts. 1t becomes LIQUID at |
about 40 Fahrenheit. so is usually seen
in this condition in tropical climates
but in colder countriesit becomes white,
solid, butter.like oil. 1t can be sepa-
rated by compression in the cold into a |
more liquid portion called olein, and a
more solid part called cocostearin, which |
is of complex constitution and contains |
at least six fatty acids. Cocoanut oil
80 4 4
stance capable OF being used, with sue
cess, in filling up the seams of boats and
ships; and in tropical countries for |
covering the corks of bottles as pro-
lection from the depreciation of the
white ants.
The root of the cOcoanut palm posses
SEES narcotic proprieties, and is some
times chewed instead of the areca-nut.
When the stem is young its central part
is sweet and eatable, but when old this
is mass of hard fibre. The terminal
bud is esteemed delicacy, and trees are
often cut down for the sake of it, The
saccharine sap of the cocoanut, as of
some other palms, is an esteemed bever-
age, either in the state in which it is OBJ
tanned from the tree or after fermentation,
which takes place in a few hours; and
from the fermented sap spirituous liqu
or (arrack) is obtained by distillation.
The juice is often, also, in the East In
dies, boiled down to yield sugar.
The leaves, when dried, are used for
various purposes; but by far the most
important fibrous product of the cocoa
nut tree is coir, the fibre of the husk of
the imperfectly ripened nut. The wood
is likewise valuable, and used in Great
Britain in ornamenting jolnery under the
Damp of nOrcl1ninn wood
The various uses of all parts of this
tree should commend it to extensive cul- |
tivation, especially in district such as
Cairns, which possesses every requisite
in the shape of climate, soil and. situa-
ton to make its production great sue
cess.-Planter and Farmer, Queensland.