Nutritive Value of Palm-nut Kernal Meal and Cake. 177 



orange-coloured pulp, from wliicli the palm-oil of commerce is 

 produced by gentle pressure. 



The bulk of palm-nut kernels, which is nearly white, is 

 covered by a thin brownish layer of woody fibre, and in conse- 

 quence of which palm-nut meal has a light brown or dirt-coloured 

 appearance. 



The size of these kernels varies from that of a hazel-nut to that of 

 a small pigeon-egg ; they are very hard, nearly inodorous, rather 

 insipid to the taste, and very rich in fatty matters, possessing 

 the consistency of butter, and useful property of not readily 

 turning rancid. The extraction of the fatty matters neces- 

 sitates the reduction of the kernels into a tolerably fine powder, 

 and the application of powerful crushing-machinery and gentle 

 heat. Notwithstanding these means, the cake or meal left in the 

 presses contains usually a larger proportion of fat than is found in 

 linseed, rape, and most other kinds of oil-cakes. 



I first became acquainted with this meal in the spring of 

 1861, when a sample was sent to me for analysis by Messrs. 

 Alexander Smith, and Co., Kent Street Oil-mills, Liverpool. 



The analysis furnished the following results : — 



Moisture 7'49 



Fatty matters 26-57 



*Albuminous compounds (tlesh-formiug matters) ,. 15'75 



Starch, mucilage, sugar and digestible fibre .. .. 37"89 



Woody fibre (cellulose) 8'4:0 , 



Mineral matters (ash) 3-90 



100-00 

 *Coiitaining nitrogen 2*52 



It appears from these results, — 



1. That this meal was very rich in ready-made fat. In the 

 best linseed-cake the percentage of oil rarely amounts to 12 per 

 cent., and 10 per cent, may be taken as a fair average. The 

 palm-kernel meal analysed by me thus contained more than twice 

 as much fatty matter, and theoretically is much superior to oil- 

 cake as a direct supplier of fat. 



2. The proportion of flesh-forming (nitrogenous) matters is 

 fully as large as in the best barley-meal, but much less than in 

 linseed- rape- or cotton-cake ; nor is it equal to that found in 

 peas, lentils, and other leguminous seeds. 



3. The amount of indigestible woody fibre is but small. 



4. It contains about as much mineral matter as cereal grains, 

 and thus is not particularly noted for bone-producing qualities. 



From these remarks it may be gathered that palm-nut-kernel 

 meal is not so well adapted for the rearing of young stock as for 

 VOL. I. — S. S. N 



