Washed Copra

Experiment In Fiji

rPHE following is taken from the weekly -bulletin (November 14) of the Fiji Coconut Planters’ Union: We are permitted by Mr. Duncan to give particulars of a recent experiment carried out, in conjunction with Lever Bros., of the relative merits of washed and unwashed copra.

At Mua Estate, Mr. Duncan dries his copra in compartments heated by steam coils and thus produces hot-air dried copra of a high quality. The lay out of his dryer is such that the green copra, on arrival at the kiln, is tipped on to a washing platform, where the green copra is washed by a fresh water jet, with a pressure of 100 lbs. to the square inch. The washed copra is then placed in the drying compartments.

Copra washed in this manner prior to drying, and copra put through the dryer at the same time without prior washing gave the following analyses:

The most interesting feature of the analysis is the lower free fatty acid con tent of the washed sample, 1.02 per cent, as compared with 3.11 per cent, of the un washed sample.

By reason of the high grade of his copra, Mr. Duncan is able to obtain a premium above the price of Fiji Planta tion South Sea.

Washed Unwashed Copra Copra Oil 66.79% 65.56% Moisture 4.07% 4.37% Free Fatty Acid 1.02% 3.11%