OIL BEANS, SEEDS AND NUTS 



453 



inches. The natives use the kernels, after they have removed the 

 hard skin, for making soup. It makes an excellent dish with rather 

 a sweet taste. According to the investigations of the Imperial 

 Institute i an analysis of the oil gave the following results : 



Specific gravity at 15° C 0-9184 



Acid value . . . . . . . . 5*5 



Saponification value .. .. 194*0 



Iodine value .. ., .. 106-0 



Hehner value . . . . . . 95 • 5 



Titer test 36-0° C. 



The oil could be used for soap-making, and was valued at £29 

 per ton. 



In the family Moringeae there is Moringa pterygosperma, the Ben 

 oil-seed tree. It is a common tree of the upper part of the Oyo, Benin 

 and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. It is also found in Borgu and other 

 of the Northern Provinces. On examination by the Imperial Insti- 

 tute the kernels were found to contain 38 per cent, of oil, pale-yellow 

 in colour and of a pleasant taste. The kernel is difficult to extract. 

 At the Imperial Institute ^ the analysis showed : 



No. 3 from 

 TJndecorti- 

 cated Seed. 



Specific gravity at 15/15° 

 Acid value 

 Saponification value 

 Iodine value 

 Unsaponifiable matter . . 



0-913 

 2-3 



186-0 

 67-7 



Composition of Cake from Ben Seeds. 



From the Simarubese there is Balanites JEgyptica, Betu oil-tree of 

 the Northern Provinces of Nigeria. Although it yields 58-7 per cent. 

 1 Colonial Report, 88, Oil Seeds, Fats and Waxes, Imperial Institute, 1914 



