OIL PALM 21 



constituted obstacles to working, and to the means of 

 preserving the trees. Oil palms near Mafokoyia are 

 shown in the picture (Fig. 10). 



The appearance of a young tree is that of a thick stem 

 throwing out annulate series of long feathery leaf fronds, 

 upon petioles, which bear roughly-formed spines. As the 

 tree increases in height the lower petioles are shed, and 

 the trunk assumes a narrower but more regular form ; 

 indistinct rings being traceable, formed by the bases of 

 the fallen leaf stems. A mature tree will measure about 

 one foot in diameter at four feet from the ground, and 

 at the ground surface the diameter will be two and a half 

 to nearly three times as much. The male flowers are 

 collected in the form of a number of tassel-like pendants, 

 springing from a common stalk, and one such bunch is 

 usually found above and upon each side of the female 

 inflorescence. Both sexes of flowers usually occur upon 

 the trees, but the natives recognise the existence of a 

 non-fruiting tree, and one which only produces male 

 flowers. The number of fruit heads and the weight of 

 these vary according to the position, age, and treatment 

 of the tree. An idea may be given of the fruitfulness 

 of trees, from the accounts obtained from natives in 

 different parts of the country. The palm has two fruiting 

 seasons, one during the dry weather and another during 

 the rainy season, the latter being generally the lighter 

 crop. It is estimated that a tree in full bearing will 

 yield from twelve to twenty fruiting heads in one year, 

 each of a fairly large size. A younger tree may only 

 produce four to eight heads, but usually of a larger size ; 

 and a tree of only five or six years old may give about 

 the same number of heads, but of smaller dimensions. 

 From very old trees small heads with fruits of a dimin- 

 ished size are obtained. The weight of a moderately 

 large head will be about thirty pounds, and will contain 

 about twelve hundred fruits weighing roughly 23 Ibs. 

 An illustration showing two fruiting heads is given 

 (Fig. 9). 



The ripe fruiting heads are gathered by a man using 

 a climbing sling, with which he encircles the tree and 

 his waist, and by means of a skilful manipulation of the 

 part in contact with the trunk and remote from the 

 body, he proceeds to ascend the tree rapidly, almost 



