INTRODUCTION 17 



20 per cent of the volume of the commercial forests of the 

 Philippines. 



Among cultivated species there are several which seem to 

 offer promising prospects for the establishment of considerable 

 industries. Elaeis gidneeyiHis (oil palm), which is used in the 

 Philippines only for ornamental purposes, grows very well and 

 is apparently not attacked by insects or fungi. In Africa this 

 plant is grown very extensively for the oil derived from the 

 seeds. Large plantations are also being started in Sumatra. 

 Peanuts are raised in considerable quantities, but very little 

 oil is extracted. In many countries, peanut oil is a commercial 

 product of great importance. Sesame, which is grown in India 

 and other countries on a huge scale for the production of ses- 

 ame oil, grows well in the Philippines, but is cultivated only to 

 a limited extent, and the oil is extracted merely for local pur- 

 poses. Palm, peanut, and sesame oils are used extensively for 

 edible purposes and for the manufacture of soap. Achras sapota 

 (chico) is cultivated in the Philippines for its edible fruit. This 

 species is grown extensively in Mexico for the production of 

 gum chicle, the principal material employed in the manufacture 

 of chewing-gum. 



From the above discussion of oils, resins, and gums, it will 

 be seen that there are promising prospects for the development 

 of industries which already exist and for the establishment of 

 a number of new ones. 



