BELGAUM WALNUT 



ALKALIS 



ALKALINE 

 EARTHS 



the whole deposited in the oil press aud compressed. The oil escapes into a 



vessel (>lu. <<[ l.dow for its reception. It is much more highly appreciated than 



the oil of the next species. It is known in Kengtung as makyauhkai, and near Local N 



Fort SUvdmim as kanyin. In the Kew Bulletin will bo found particulars of 



tli.- rvoont imports into Europe and America of this so-called wood-oil. 



It is specially valued for use, along with vermilion, in the preparation of the Vermilion 



admired paint (with its richly glossy surface) so frequently seen at the Patnt - 

 moil istt rios (ii'iit.i) and pagodas of Burma. It is also employed as a VARNISH VaruUh. 

 for lacqiu>r-work (especially the finer trays, betel-nut boxes, etc). It is said that 

 in tho Southern Shan States the tree grows quickly and is readily propagated by 

 seed. A tree 5 years old attains a height of about 16 feet, and when about 8 

 to 10 years old it comes into full bearing. The fruits ripen in October, or about Season. 

 i liiv.- months later than those of the next species. It is believed that were a re- 

 munerative demand to arise, in a very few years the supply from these States 

 might be practically limitless, and Prof. Warburg is of opinion that the oil 

 should supersede linseed oil on the European market. \Cf. Hosie, Three years in 

 Western China, 1890, 18; Journ. Chem. 2nd , 1896, xv., 284 ; Journ. Soc. Arts, 1897, 

 45, 1184 ; British and Colon. Drugs, May 20, 1898, 654 ; Semler, Trop. Agrik., 1900. 

 ii., 533-6; Jumelle, Les. Cult. Colon. (Indust.), 1901, 118-21; Chemist and 

 Druggist, May, 1902.] 



A. triloba, Forst. ; Hemsley, I.e. 121 ; A. moluccana, Willd. ; 

 Fl. Br. Ind., v., 384 ; Gamble, Man. Ind. Timbs., 613. The Indian or 

 Belgaum Walnut, the Candle-nut ; the jangli-akrot, jaiphal, etc. It occurs 

 practically throughout India and Burma, but nowhere plentifully except 

 perhaps in the Malay Peninsula. It has been stated to be wild in the 

 Wynaad, because of its greater abundance in that country, but it is certainly 

 not indigenous to India, and, in fact, usually exists as a garden or roadside 

 curiosity, especially near towns or villages. On the eastern side of India 

 the fruits ripen from June to August (Roxb., Kurz., etc.), and on the western 

 side not until the cold season (Talbot). 



The nuts are commonly said to contain 50 per cent, or more of a sweet edible 

 OIL. [Cf. Dymock. Mat. Med. Western Ind., 713.] It is much appreciated for illu- 

 minating purposes and is said to be largely exported from Polynesia and used 

 in the candle trade of Europe. The kernels are sometimes strung on thin bamboos 

 and burned as natural candles, a circumstance that has given origin to the name 

 of the Candle-nut tree. Capt. Champion (Agri.-Hort. Soc. Ind., Corresp. and Select., 

 1843, ii., 383 et seq.) described the preparation of the oil from these nuts as 

 then practised in Ceylon, and tells us that it was being exported from that country 

 under the name kekune. During the succeeding half century, the Journals of the 

 above Society, as also the pages of the Indian press generally, have spasmodically 

 urged the importance of this tree on the attention of the Indian people, but 

 with very little practical results. 



The inquiry during the post decade has revealed the fact that the tree exists 

 here and there all over the country, but nowhere in such abundance as to admit of 

 any expectations of an immediate TRADE in the oil. In fact, with the exception 

 of the Shan States, the oil does not appear to be expressed from the kernels 

 anywhere in India. In some parts of Burma it is employed as a VARNISH with 

 lacquer-ware, but it is usually stated that for that purpose it possesses no special 

 advantage over Sesame or Sarson oils. 



There are two directions of study that should engage attention in the future : 

 (a) The method of preparation of the oil or oils of these trees, best calculated to 

 bring out their special features of value. (6) The yield and profit, in connection 

 with the regions that give indications of greatest success. 



D.E.P., 

 i., 163. 



Belgaum 

 Walnut. 



Habitat. 



Oil. 



Natural Candles. 



Ceylon Traffic. 



Prospects of 

 Trade. 



Varnish. 



Future Inquiry. 



ALKALIS, ALKALINE EARTHS, ALKALOIDS, etc.- Alkalis. 

 It would be beyond the scope of this work to deal with the substances 

 indicated by the heading given to this article with any pretence to com- 

 pleteness, but they could not be omitted since it might almost be said that 

 the industrial progress of a country can be ascertained by the extent to 

 which it produces the Alkalis required by it own industries. 



47 



