In New Caledonia, the coco-nut palm is abundant on the N.-E. coast, but rare on the opposite coast, and while it flourishes in a northern aspect, it declines towards the south. At Tahiti, there are about 200,000 of these trees, which produced over 123 million nuts in 1874; about 600,000 nuts, and nearly 2,000,000 kilo. of copra, were exported. The Marquesas shipped 19,000 kilo. of copra in 1873. From the Tuamotus Archipelago, 3000 tons of copra were exported in 1873; the single island of Anaa is said to possess more than 7 million of the palms. Large plantations were made in 1866, and must now be in full fruiting. From the island of Samoa, in the S. Pacific, copra is the main article of export, but is the production almost solely of the German-owned plantations. In 1879, there were 12,921 acres of coco-nuts cultivated by whites in the Fiji Islands. Tahiti exported 174,400 coco-nuts, value 698/., and 2113 tons copra, value 29,582/., in 1878 ; and 150,000 nuts, value 600/., and 875 tons copra, value 12,2501., in 1879.
Coco-nuts are the chief production of the Seychelles, and the plantations are constantly increas ing and extending from the beaches up to 1000-1500 ft. on the mountain-slopes. In 1879, 5278 coco-nut trees were recorded as growing in Curieuse Island, and 16,369 on Fdlieitd Island. The best land is said to be already occupied by them. The method of extracting the oil is very primitive. Mauritius ships 40,000-50,000 nuts yearly.
In Jamaica, some thousands of the palm have been planted on sterile spots, such as the Pali sadoes, running from Kingston to Port Royal. Several of the parishes possess over 100,000 fruiting trees each, and the number is constantly increasing. The tree abounds around nearly the whole sea board of the island, but is singularly neglected. The annual export of 2 million nuts, worth about 50001., from the colony, gives no true index of the importance of the palm, nor the value it might have.
Trinidad possesses similar undeveloped resources, and the cultivation of the nut can he extended indefinitely on the eastern coast. The trees are in bearing all the year round, but some planters confine the plucking to three periods,—April, August, and December. The shipments in 1864 averaged only 250,000 nuts, but in 1876, they were 4i million, and the total value was 18,000/.
The cultivation might be developed in Dominica with certain and immense advantage. The nut begins to bear in the 3rd year, the produce of the 4th year is very considerable, and that of the 6th is a "full crap." The cost of planting and cultivation are merely nominal, for in such situations as the valleys on the sea-coast, having extensive frontages of stony, barren, or swampy sail, tho palm completely outstrips weeds and every other kind of vegetation. The number of coca-nut trees in the island is already considerable, and the nuts are of excellent size and quality, so that an extended production might easily be effected. It is receiving increased atten
tion, being found to be one of the most easy and profitable cultivations. The exports from Dominica were 2,262,927 nuts in 1871, 2,660,905 in 1872, 2,380,871 in 1873, 3,974,400 in 1874, and over 4 million in 1875. Surinam exported 82,236 nuts in 1877, and 54,864 in 1878.
British Guiana had 10 estates tinder coca-nuts in 1879; the exports in 1880 were 1,197,908 nuts from Demerara, and 1050 from Berbice. British Honduras exported 381,680 coca-nuts in 1876, 604,399 in 1877, and 688,164 in 1878. The Bahamas have recently entered upon this industry, and there is promise of its attaining respectable proportions in a few years. The export of the nuts was 9518 in 1879. Some 80,000 trees have been planted in the colony since 1875.
Groves of coconut palms extend for about 280 miles along the coast of Brazil. From Para alone, about 7 million of the nuts, worth 130,000/., are annually shipped to the United States and Europa. The yearly produce of the island of Itamarca, on that °oast, is about 400,000 nuts. Maceio exported 263/. worth of coconuts in 1876, and 138/. in 1879.
is the produce of Attalea funifera, one of the palms affording piassaba fibre (see Fibrous Substances—Attalea funifera). It is of a dark-mahogany colour, oval, and 3-4 in. long, and is used for ornamental turning, and making the handles of doors, umbrellas, &c. The supplies have been curtailed by indiscriminate destruction of the trees, and the quality has much deteriorated.
or or Vegetable fruit of the anti/ (Phytelephas macrocarpa) forms the rnaifil vejetal, or "vegetable ivory" of commerce. The plant is confined to the northern part of S. America ; and though yielding so useful a product, no serious attempt has been made to introduce it into any of our tropical colonies, despite the great promise of profit attending such a venture. In Jamaica, Trinidad, and Dominica, the plant would thrive along the banks of the rivers and streams, which run through many of the estates. The " nuts " are the seeds found in the interior of the fruit. They are collected by the natives, and shipped in large quan tities to Europe, where they form the chief substitute for elephant-ivory (see Ivory), and are very extensively used for small articles of turnery, such as buttons. The exports of these nuts from Panama are constantly increasing, and at enhanced prices ; the shipments to the United States in 1879 were of a value of 28,370/. The exports from Guayaquil have increased from 71,482 quintals in 1874, to 193,432 quintals in 1879; the province of Manabi also shipped 107,986 quintals in 1878. The consumption of the nuts despatched from Guayaquil is almost equally divided between England and Hamburg ; bat the cargoes sent from Manta and other Ecuadorian ports are chiefly for the latter market. Their value is 15-30s. a cwt.