OF THE COCOANUT DURING GERMINATION 



335 



that tiic cocoa palm docs not thrive away from the coast or where 



See second table, page 331. 



salt is lacking in the soil 



Bachofeu's Analysis of the Cocoanut 



Total weight in lbs. 



" " in per cent. 

 ^ j Moisture in per cent. 



\ l>ry matter in per cent. 

 Pure ash in per cent., containing viz : 



Silica, SiOj. 



Oxide of iron and alumina, FejOjAl.^Og. 



Lime, CaO. 



Magnesia, MgO. 



t Potash, K.p. 



Soda, Na.^0. 



f Potassium chloride, KCl. 



Sodium chloride, NaCl. 



Phosphoric acid, PjOj. 



Sulphuric acid, SO3. 



I Containing total potash, KjO. 

 * Containing nitrogen, N. 



Husk. 



Shell. 



Kernel. 



Milk. 



0-593 

 12.58 



45-95 

 1.92 



3-13 



100.00 



30-71 

 0.137 



45.01 



O.IOO 



1304 

 5.01 



20.33 



8.79 



99-99 



54.05 

 0.504 



0.38 



2.95 

 Trace. 



7-43 

 3-97 

 8.62 



41.09 



26 32 



5.68 



3-94 



100.00 



34-54 



Thus of the more important ingredients of the soil 1,000 nuts remove the following ; 



Fat. — The striking chemical characteristic of the endosperm is 

 its large content of oil. This may readily be extracted with fluids 

 like ether. It can also be obtained in large proportion by pres- 

 sure, particularly at the tropical temperatures. The fat has the 

 consistence of butter in northern countries and possesses, when 

 fresh, a fragrant and characteristic odor and an agreeable taste. It 

 is snow white, sometimes cream-colored and readily crystallizes in 

 large rosettes from the molten condition or from its alcohol or 

 ethereal solutions. These crystals closely resemble those of pal- 

 mitic acid. They melt at about 20-23° C, and congeal again several 

 degrees below the melting point. They are fairly soluble in cold 

 alcohol. Although cocoa-fat differs somewhat in composition in 

 different countries, it has been found that the variations are compara- 

 tively slight. The temperature at which the oil is expressed influences 



