Copra Drying Sheds

Overcoming Ventilation Problem

The successful drying of coconuts in the sheds depends almost entirely on satisfactory air movement.

It is desirable that the direction of air movement be controlled and if the quality of the product is to be maintained, then large quantities of air at low temperatures are Preferable to small volumes at high tempera As a result of some 30 years’ experience, Messrs. Malleys Ltd., ventilating specialists, of Sydney, have evolved an automatic ventil ator cowl for placing on the roofs of drying sheds. J 6 The ventilator cowl combines the most desirable features from the wide range of ventilators manufactured; and to select the best features a wind tunnel was constructed capable of passing winds at low or high veloc ities over full-sized ventilators, and by means of specially calibrated anemometers. The air moving effect of the different ventilators under various wind velocities was observed and combinations and alterations made until a cowl was designed that under test showed superior qualities to any cowl previously made.

This special ventilating system is, of course, suitable for use in any building in the tropics.

All the New Guinea Missions engage to some extent in agriculture, and the native adherents to the several Mis sions receive a considerable amount of

practical training in plantation work.

In districts which have been under

Mission influence for a lengthy period

it is not uncommon to find coffee bushes, tobacco of fair quality, and

edible legumes in the village gardens.