(2) COMPOSITION OF THE FRUITS. 

 Average weight of a fruit 



The diameter of the fruits, in the samples examined was 

 almost always above 20 mm., and often exceeded 25 mm. 



(3) PERCENTAGE PROPORTION OF PULP AND NUT IN THE FRUIT. 



First sample { Nut^^ishell, 4 3'5 ; kernel, 18-3). 



, f Pulp, 2O'O. 



Second sample | Nut? 8o . Q (shdl) ^.^ . kemdj l6 . ?4) 



(4) PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OK THE PULP. 

 Water, 3-29 to 4-50; fat, 77'I4 to 65-48. 



(5) PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF THE KERNELS. 

 Water, 8-50 to io'8 ; fat, 45-9 to 47-8. 



It is seen that the fruits are very appreciably heavier than 

 those of the Ivory Coast and Dahomey. On the other hand, 

 the pulp is very rich in fat, but the proportion of shell in the 

 nuts is very high : 



Shells, 70-4 to 85-5 per cent. ; kernels, 29-6 to 14-45 P er cent - 



The yield of palm kernels is, therefore, low, and the thick- 

 ness of the shells being as much as 6 mm., the cracking of the 

 nuts is difficult. 



CONTRIBUTION AU PROBLEME DU BUDGET ALIMENTAIRE 



DE L'ELAEIS. 



Par M. GASTON WILLIAM E. 



[ABSTRACT.] 



Le probleme du budget alimentaire de YElaeis gninccnsis 

 presente une grande importance en raison du mouvement qui 

 tend a utiliser pour cette essence, comme pour tant de produits 

 tropicaux jusqu'ici mis en valeur a Tetat forestier, les methodes 

 agronomiques rationnelles d'exploitation. 



Ce probleme est actuellement tres difficile a resoudre, vu 

 que les termes n'en sont pas encore poses exactement : d'une 

 part, une seule analyse complete, celle de Zeller, a ete effectuee 

 concernant les matieres enlevees par YElaeis et encore laisse- 



