41 
have forwarded to the Director of the Imperial Institute samples 
of the various oils; and his report on them, as to their respective 
commercial values, will be of special interest.” 
f the six forms included under Group 1, that named Abe-fita 
or fufu appears to be the most distinct. Both in the character of its 
oil and in the retention of the style and stigmas by the ripe fruit, 
this form may be easily distinguished from the others ; but whether 
these characters are combined with others which, taken together, 
GAMBIA AND SieRrRA LEONE, 
The different varieties of the Oil Palm do not appear to be recog- 
nised by the natives either in the Gambia or in Sierra Leone. In 
the despatch of the Acting Governor of Sierra Leone to the 
Secretary of State for the Colonies, the following paragraph 
District, who states that there may be differences in the thickness 
of the shell, but in no case has he seen what would be considered as 
a thin-shelled kernel.” 
Dauomey. 
From the account by M. N. Savariau,* Chef du service 
d’Agriculture in Dahomey, the different varieties of the Oil Palm 
appear to be well known to the French, and specimens of well- 
marked, thin-shelled, and thick-shelled varieties were presented to 
Kew from the French West African section of the Franco-British 
Exhibition, by M. Max Robert. 
“ According to the natives of Dahomey,” says M. Savarian, 
“certain palms give fruits with a soft shell (noyan) easily broken 
by the teeth. These fruits are used in their natural state, or are 
set apart to make an oil of excellent quality. The palms which 
produce them are not distinguished by any external character from 
the common palm. 
wo other varieties are also recorded from Dahomey in the same 
work, viz.—‘ The common variety, with fruits the size of a pigeon’s 
egg, with a hard shell,” and “a well-recognised variety known as 
‘ Palmier fétiche,’ used for holy oil.” This latter variety, of which 
an illustration is given, appears to be the “ King Palm,” or var. 
No. 3 of the Eastern Province lists. ag : 
Whilst this account of the Oil Palm in British Dominions was in 
the press the series of articles—not yet completed—on the Oil 
alm in French West Africa, by M. J. Adam,f Inspector 
? 
_ * “JT Agriculiure au Dahomey,” N. Savariau, 1906, p. 64. Gouvernement 
Général de l Afmque Occident, Francaise ; Colonie du Dahomey. 
+ Adam,J. Le Palmier 4 huile et le Cocotier en Afrique Occidentale Francaise 
in L’ Agriculture pratique des pays chauds ; Bulletin Meusuel du Jardin Colonial, — 
1908, No. 68, pp. 380-389 ; No. 69, pp. 466-475 ; 1909, No, 70, pp. 35-46. 
