The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-01-07
DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES.
THE COC0ANUT.
(CoNTlNuED)

liClSldl Ndlue vi JlC COCUaOuJ Is IOf
its oil, which is obtained from the
kernel of the nut when dried.
Copra, as it is called in the dry
state, is prepared by removing the
husk and breaking the shell of the
maturcd cocoanut, which should be
kept a month or six weeks after it is
gathered, for then the copra dries
more quickly and is richer in oil.
The kernel or meat is broken up into
small pieces and laid out in the sun
to dry for one or two days till its
watery parts are all evaporated. 1t
must not be allowed to get wet, for
it will then get quickly mouldy and
rot. 1000 full sized nuts will make
over 800 pounds of copra which will
yield about 30 gallons Of oil.
The oil is obtained by pressure or
boiling. For the ordinary purpose
of commerce the former method is
used. If intended for perfumery use,
and is required colorless, the follow
ing process is employed: The kerr
mel is plunged in water and boiled
for a few minutes, then taken out,
grated and placed in the oil press
the emulsion thus obtained is boiled
until the oil rises to the surface.
Its principal use is in the manufac-
ture of soap and candles, hair oils,
pomades and cosmetics. 1t makes,
with the exception of one prepared
from the gdre americana, the only
soap that is soluble in salt water. 1t
is the principal material now used in
the manufacture of fine soaps, and
has become a substitute for wax in
the manufacture of fine candles. 1t
is extensively used and substituted
for olive oil in pharmaceutical prep.
arations, and by cloth manufacturers
and glass blowers. 1t is often en-
pIoyed as a lamp oil in European
countries, and vast quantities are
burned in lamps throughout the whole
Indian archipelago and the Pacific
isles. In its native homes it is also
largely used in cookery when fresh !;
it then has rich flavor, but soon
becomes rancid.
In Ceylon the oil is expressed
mostly by common rude oil mills
worked by a man, boy and two
oxen; working eight hours day
they will operate on $50 pounds of
copra. There are over 5000 of these
mills in Ceylon, but latterly improved
steam machinery has been introduced
and is being brought into profitable
use. Priestman Bros, of Hull, Eng
land, furnish estimates of cocoanut
oil machinery consisting of circular
cutting machines, edge stone run
ners, steam pans, steam heater, hy-
draulic presses, pumps for presses,
iron tanks, steam engine, etc. An
apparatus to be run by a l0.horse
power engine and capable of produc-
ing about $50 gallons per day is esti-
mated at about 1880.
The value of the oil huctuates con-
siderably in its various markets but
is always at profitable figure and in
active demand.
CoCoANUT FIBRE OR Com. Next
to the oil in value is the fibrous
husk of the cocoanut which as pre-
pared for market is known as coir.
1t is valuable fibre and an import
ant article of commerce which is in
large and constantly increasing de-
mand in Europe, Asia and America,
having been found suited for the
production of variety of articles of
utility and elegance, such as table
mats, fancy baskets, bonnets, etc.
1t is used for the manufacture of
coarse brushes, rugs, door mats, and
mattings for passages and Hobbies.
1t is preferred to horse hair for
stulliDg mattresses, cushions, chairs
and saddles, as it is indestructible,
has no unpleasant smell, and har-
bors no vermin: it is woven into
hammocks, and cordage of all sizes,
it being the best material yet known
for ships cables, because of its great
elasticity and strength, and it is i'm
proved rather than injured by sea
water. Machinery has been con-
strucled by which the fibre is render
ed sufficiently fine for the loom, and
mating of different textures is pro-
duced and in combination with
wool it makes double hearth rugs
and Competing.
Coir is prepared by soaking the
husks in water for SIX to eight months
till they are rotten enough to throw
out the fibre when beaten. The pro-
cess varies in different places but the
method in Ceylon appears to pro-
duce the best fibre. The husks are
buried in pits near the river bank
where there are streng currents and
remain under water during the mon
soon: the stencil from those rotten
pits is intolerable: when the husks
are taken out the fibre is beat out
with short heavy clubs, washed
clean, dried and bundled up for mar
ket. The tannin which the fibre
contains prevents it from rotting.
Apparatus and machines are now
al a.