784 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Europe and 13,843 to this side 

 of the Atlantic, and the respec- 

 tive figures for Para were 87,496 

 and 93,532. The total exporta- 

 tion to Europe was 212,660, and 

 to American ports, 195,027. The 

 statistics of the Department of 

 Commerce and Labor give the 

 following amounts and values 

 of the Brazil nuts imported into 

 the United States from 1909 to 

 1914, inclusive : 



Courtesy the South American 



UNLOADING BRAZIL NUTS 



This shows the method of unloading the nuts by basket and depositing them on the river bank awaiting 



the arrival of the river steamers. 



and they may be preserved for many months by storing 

 them in a moderately dry place and out of reach of 

 the hot sun or excessive moisture. The use of the seeds 

 for procuring an oil is more extensive and important 

 than is generally known. If they are kept dry the ker- 

 nel soon easily separates from the hard shell of the 

 seed. The seeds are then cracked with a small mallet 

 or by means of machinery especially designed for this 

 purpose without injuring the kernels. The sound ker- 

 nels are next cleaned from every particle of shell and 

 crushed for the purpose of obtaining the oil of which 

 there is approximately 70 per cent. The oil obtained 

 from the first pressing is of the best quality ; it is clear 

 and suitable for food and is sometimes used as a sub- 

 stitute for olive oil. It retains the taste of the kernel, 

 which to some persons is very disagreeable. The oil 

 is used also by watch makers and artists. 



The bulk of the seeds coming into the United States 

 are eaten. It has been estimated that about twenty per 

 cent are shelled and used by confectioners for making 

 various sorts of candied products. This latter use is 

 rapidly increasing. 



According to Mr. Carter the exports of Brazilian nuts 

 from Para, Manaos, and Itacoatiara during the period 

 from January 1st to June 30, 1915, amounted to 407,687 

 bushels. Of this total, 188,542 bushels were from Manaos, 

 38,117 bushels from Itacoatiara, and 181,028 bushels 

 from Para. Manaos shipped 100,890 bushels to Europe 

 and 87,652 to American ports, Itacoatiara 24,274 to 



Courtesy the South American 



PLACING BRAZIL NUTS IN THE PAIOES 

 These paioes are shelters built of palm leaves on the river banks, in 

 which the nuts are protected from the hot sun and tropical rains pending 

 the arrival of the river steamers. 



The inner portion of the bark is rather thick, very fibrous 

 and of a dark brown or reddish color indicating the pres- 

 ence of tannin. It contains tannin in commercial quanti- 

 ties, but it is rarely used for this purpose because the bark 

 is too valuable for making oakum used so extensively in 

 Brazil for calking vessels. 



A CABLEGRAM from France received from Secretary P. S. Ridsdale, of the American Forestry Asso- 

 ciation, just before this magazine went to press announced that the French Government has accepted 

 the offer of aid in reforesting France made by the Association. Mr. Ridsdale, after visiting the de- 

 vastated areas, will return to Washington, sailing from Liverpool February 5th, on the first available 

 boat. Plans for gathering the seed for France will be completed upon his return. 



