OIL PALM AND PALM KERNEL INDUSTRY 479 



106. Pericarp Palm Oil . 



Specific gravity 15/15 

 Melting-point 

 Saponification value. 

 Iodine value 

 Reichert-Meissl value 

 Hehner value 



Analysis. — This is as follows : 



°C 0- 9209-0- 9245 



24°-42-5° C. 

 196 -3-205 -5 

 53-57-4 



0-86-1-87 

 94-2-97 



The solidifying-point of fatty acids varies from 35-8° to 46-4° 0. 

 usually 44-5° to 45° C. 



(See also la, Uses ; see also 12a.) 



11. European Uses of Oil and Kernels, Palm Wine, Palm 

 Cabbage, etc. — From 46 to 53 per cent, of oil is contained in the kernel. 



Palm oil is used in Europe for making margarine, vegetable butters, 

 chocolate and cooking fats. It makes a good butter-substitute. 

 Palm oil is chiefly used for making soap and candles in England, 

 according to Mr. Dennett's paper. Tin plates are covered with palm 

 oil to prevent oxidization. The leakage from the casks of oil on 

 board ship is used for making metal polish. Railways use it for 

 greasing axle-boxes on railway carriages. 



11a. Nigerian Exports, Oil and Kernels. — The exports of palm 

 kernels have been increasing almost continuously for years, owing to 

 the gradual opening up of the country to trade, and also to the natives 

 finding out the value of the kernel as an article of barter ; nevertheless, 

 more still could be obtained if hand-cracking machinery and more 

 nut-cracking mills were introduced at suitable spots. 



The following tabJe shows the exports for the years 1909 to 1916 of 



