6 THE GAMBIA 



into the manufacture of oleo-margarine. After these 

 expressions of oil have been made, the meal is pressed 

 into cakes and used for cattle-food and manurial 

 purposes. 



Classification and Description of the Groundnut Plant. 

 The groundnut belongs to the Sub-Order Papilionacece, 

 of the Order LEGUMiNOSd!, and is termed Arachis 

 hypogcea, Linn. 



The plant cultivated in Senegal and the Gambia 

 grows in a spreading form, with branches of from 12 to 

 18 inches in length, and possesses oval leaflets given off 

 in double pairs. A large number of conspicuous yellow 

 flowers appear from the upper leaf axils, but are not 

 capable of fertilisation. Those springing from the lower 

 leaf axils nearest the ground are small and generally 

 hidden, but produce fruitful pods. After fertilisation 

 the stems of these flowers become elongated, and are 

 directed downwards, forcing the ovary into the ground, 

 in which it commences to swell to the mature size, 

 frequently penetrating to a depth of two inches beneath 

 the surface. 



The fruit is a pale straw-coloured, irregularly-cylindrical 

 pod, with the surface of the shell pitted and longitudinally 

 ribbed. In the Gambian variety, which is identical 

 with the common Senegalese kind, there are usually 

 two kernels in each pod, but three or one are also 

 found. 



The plant is of doubtful origin, but it is generally 

 supposed that it may have been introduced into Africa 

 from Brazil (where the genus Arachis is well represented) 

 nearly four centuries ago, by the Portuguese slave- 

 traders. 



About 1840 groundnuts began to attract the attention 

 of European manufacturers, on account of the value of 

 the oil obtained from them, and, in common with the 

 Senegalese, the Gambian natives were induced to under- 

 take cultivation upon a large scale. 



The nuts grown in the Gambia and in Saloum, in the 

 French territory adjoining on the north, are classed 

 as of second quality ; those from Cayor and Rufisque 

 holding the first, and those from the Casamance and 

 Portuguese Guinea the third, places, i 



The seeds are sown upon ridges with flattened tops, 



