34 COCONUTS, KERNELS, AND CACAO. 



coloured palm oil has been extracted from the outer 

 pulpy portion of the fruit. In Sierra Leone, this is, 

 principally, the work of thousands of small farmers in the 

 Colony and Hinterland, who, with wives and families, 

 work at this industry during the season. Their produce 

 is collected by agents and sub-agents representing the 

 large trading firms. 



The kernels are exported, and the expression of the 

 kernel oil carried out in Europe. Palm kernel oil is 

 white in colour and of rather softer consistence than palm 

 oil. The kernel, when it reaches the mills, is treated 

 either by the crushing or chemical extraction processes 

 to obtain this oil. The oil forms about 50 per cent, of its 

 contents, and has a very high commercial value, being 

 sold at about 40 per ton in peace time, and at a much 

 higher figure during war. Formerly employed solely in 

 the manufacture of soap, candles, etc., palm kernel oil 

 has latterly been more and more in demand among the 

 makers of edible products, such as " nut-butter/' choco- 

 late fats, etc. Before the great World War, most of our 

 supplies of this oil were imported from the Continent. 

 Now that the question of the people's food supplies 

 has become one of vital moment to the country, the 

 production of large quantities of wholesome nut-butter, 

 sold at almost one-third the price of ordinary butter, and 

 manufactured entirely within our own borders from pro- 

 duce supplied by British Colonies, may be regarded as a 

 factor of no small importance in furthering the national 

 policy by facilitating domestic economy. 



Before the war the Germans imported kernels from 

 Liverpool, and then sent the oil back to that port and 

 undersold the Liverpool crushers. 



