The annually increasing consumption of the nuts holds out a great inducement to the native proprietors to reclaim all their hitherto unproductive land.  The fruit commands a high price in the island, (ranging from 3/4d. to 3d. per nut), owing to the constant demand for it as an article of food, by both Singhalese and Malabars; there is not so much, therefore, now converted into copperah for oil making.  In the maritime provinces of the island, it has been estimated that the quantity of nuts used in each family, say of five persons, amounts to 100 nuts per month, or 1,000 per annum.  It needs only a reduction in the cost of transit, to extend the consumption in the interior of the island to an almost unlimited extent.

In 1842, Ceylon exported but 550 nuts, while in 1847 she shipped off to other quarters three millions and a half of nuts, valued at L5,500.  The average value of the nuts exported may be set down at L7,000.

In Cochin China the cultivation of the coco-nut tree is much attended to, and they export a large quantity of oil.  At Malacca and Pinang it shares attention with the more profitable spices.  Since the palm has been acclimatised in Bourbon, about 20,000 kilogrammes of oil have been produced annually.  About 8,000 piculs of oil are exported annually from Java.

A correspondent, under date December, 1849, has furnished me with the following particulars of coco-nut planting in Jaffna, the northern district of Ceylon, in which the culture has only recently been carried on; the facts and figures are interesting:—­

The Karandhai estate, the property of the late Mr. J. Byles, was sold last month for L2,400, part of it bearing.  It consisted of 303 acres, of which 228 are planted with coco nuts—­about half the trees six years old.

The Victoria estate, in extent 170 acres, planted and part in bearing, and about seventy acres of jungle, was also sold for L1,500.  Mr. G. Dalrymple was the purchaser of the latter, and Mr. Davidson of the former.  Both lots were cheap.  The properties are among the best in the district, the latter, especially, is a beautiful estate.

About two-thirds of the estates planted are looking well, and the remainder but indifferently, in fact, ought never to have been planted, and I believe will never give any return.  About 7,000 acres are now under cultivation here, and clearing is still going on.  Estates can now be put in for about one half what they cost formerly, viz., about L4 or L5 per acre, and can be kept in order, inclusive of all charges, for about 15s. to 20s. per acre for the first two years, and about half that afterwards.  Estates, in some instances, have been put in for about L3 per acre.

Elephants have almost disappeared; now and then a stray one comes.  Figs are still a great nuisance, but the greatest anxiety among planters is regarding beetles.  You will be sorry to hear