6 Journal of the Bepaiitment ov Agriculture. — July, lt)22. 



A Process for Pressing and Baling Ground-nuts. 



In considering- tlie question of the export oversea of South 

 African ground-nuts, the matter of packing- is an important one, 

 and farmers interested are advised of a new process, the patent 

 rig-hts of which are held by the Hull Oil Manufacturing- Company, 

 Limited, the same company furnishing- the favourable report on the 

 sample of South African g-round-nuts referred to elsewhere in these 

 notes. Among the advantages of this process is, of course, the 

 great economy in space, the volume of a bale of ground-nuts being- 

 reduced from lOVs to 4'76 cubic feet, dependent on the origin and 

 dryness of the nuts ; the weight of such a bale would be from 

 185 to 215 lb. In comparison with decorticated nuts, the baled nuts 

 are said to have a slight advantage as regards space in relation to 

 weight; in other words, a ton of decorticated nuts requires about 62 

 cubic feet, while nuts pressed under the new process would occupy 

 only 56 cubic feet, or 6 feet greater than the space required to carry 

 one ton weight of maize. 



This method of pressing, it is stated, will generally be welcomed 

 by manufacturers. In addition to shipping and railage considera- 

 tions the process is said to serve as a preservative by excluding 

 air from the bale, and the presence of tlie shell itself not only 

 accelerates, but lowers the cost of the expression or extraction of the 

 oil. The process is arousing a good deal of interest, and the Trade 

 Commissioner, who is keeping in touch with the owners, states that 

 several West African firms which ship large quantities of nuts in 

 their shells to the United Kingdom and France, are now negotiating 

 for a supply of the presses. 



Potato Culture in the Union. 



Of the crops produced in the Union potatoes rank third in bulk, 

 maize, according to the 1919-20 Census, being first and wheat 

 second. Although the climate of the Union as a whole is not Avell 

 suited to the production of potatoes, the greater portion being grown 

 as a summer crop on dry lands, they do exceedingly well in some 

 areas, but expansion is limited to the extent of the local market, 

 which, together with exports to adjoining territories in Southern 

 Africa, constitutes at present the sole outlet for the crop. Never- 

 theless the part the vegetable plays in the daily regimen of the 

 community provides a regular demand, and the crop is grown exten- 

 sively in favoured localities. In view of requests for information 

 dealing- generally Avith the cultivation of potatoes, Mr. Bosman, 

 Technical Assistant of the Department, has contributed to this 

 number of the Journal an article on the subject Avhich will be found 

 useful by those engaged in, or who propose to take up, the growing 

 of the crop. There are certain essentials, such as the quality of the 

 seed sown and the preparation of the seed-bed, that must be properly 

 carried out in order to ensure success, and these, based in a large 

 measure on the results of experiments, are dealt with by the writer. 

 The present one is to be followed in subsequent issues of the Journal 

 by articles dealing with the insect and other pests to which potatoes 

 are subject, so that combined they will serve as a useful guide to 

 growers. 



