276 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



without becoming rancid. The area devoted to sesame in 

 India is about 4,500,000 acres and the annual yield is approxi- 

 mately 200,000 tons. 



Rape-seed oil is imported into Europe in greatest quanti- 

 ties from Bombay. The seed contains from 33 to 40 per cent. 

 of oil. The cold pressed oil is used for eating purposes in 

 India and Europe. In the United States, rape-seed oil is 

 much used as a "bread oil" to grease the ends of the loaves 

 of bread. Rape-seed oil, extracted by chemicals, is used for 

 illuminating and lubricating purposes as well as the manufac- 

 ture of soap. Europe imports 280,000,000 pounds of rape 

 seed annually from India. The area devoted to the produc- 

 tion of rape in India is about 3,500,000 acres. 



NONDRYING OILS 



Olive oil is produced chiefly in the Mediterranean countries, 

 Syria, California, South Africa, and Australia. The palp of 

 the fruit yields 10 to 50 per cent, of oil according to variety 

 and locality. The yield per acre varies from 500 to 2,000 gal- 

 lons of oil. The largest yield of oil is obtained from com- 

 pletely ripe fruit, but the highest grade of oil comes from fruit 

 which is not fully ripe. In ordinary practice the fruit is 

 crushed entire, but a better quality of oil is obtained from the 

 pulp or marc alone, in which case the oil is marketed under the 

 name of olive kernel oil. 



In California the percentage of oil in olives is comparatively 

 low. It has been found that the fruit should be pressed as 

 soon as possible after picking, but methods have been devised 

 for holding the fruit a long time without deterioration. The 

 first expression from the fresh olive pulp yields "Provence oil," 

 "Nice oil," "Riviera oils," and other high grades of olive oil. 

 After the first expression water is added to the pulp and pres- 

 sure again applied. From the second expression, salad oil or 

 common table oil of second grade is obtained. The pulp is 



