Some additional information from the Gold Coast was received 
at Kew at the end of November, 1908, in a despatch from the 
Colonies, transmitting an interim report on the Oil Palm, from 
the Acting Director of Agriculture (Mr. A. E. Evans) under the 
date of August 24th, 1908. 
The two following paragraphs, relating to the different varieties 
of fruits to be met with, are extracted from this report :— 
_“ There are undoubtedly six varieties of fruits of the oil palms 
in this Colony, but it is very doubtful if they are distinct species. 
In all probability the one known as Abe-Ohene and that known as 
Abobo-be will be found to be different species, but the remainder 
will, no doubt, be found to be variations from the true Elaeis 
gquineensis. 
“The form known as Abobo-be in this Colony somewhat resembles 
that described by Dr. Preuss in the Cameroons as Lisombe, but 
am inclined to think it must be a different species, as the Abobo-be 
in this Colony is smaller than the other varieties, but has a much 
thicker fleshy pulp; the Lisombe of the Cameroons is said to be 
a much larger fruit, and Dr. Preuss states that the average weight 
of the Lisombe fruit (arrived at from thirteen bunches) was 
10°24 grammes, whereas the average weight of Abobo-be is only 
6°25 grammes.” 
“It is very difficult to give with any degree of accuracy the 
relative abundance of the known varieties of oil palms, so, for the 
purpose of this report, I have classed them under three groups :— 
* Ist group :— 
Soak (1. Abe-pa, 
; ‘ | 2. Abe-dam. 
Fruits large ; colour of pericarps | 3 A be.tuntum. 
varies from yellowish-white to eT CE a 
blackish-red ; nuts hard. 5 Ag he 
6 
. Abubnu-be. 
up :— ‘ Habe ee 
Fruits small; very fleshy peri- te 
carps, with thin soft-shelled nut. \ 7 Abobo- 
“ 3rd group :— 
Fruits large ; pericarps brick red ; , 
nut hard; leaflets jomed to- 7-8. Abe-Ohene. 
gether at the base. 
lst Group. oe 
“1, Abe-pa. This variety appears to be the most abundant ; ee 
is widely distributed all over the Colony. ‘The fruits are peated 
