OIL PALM 23 



with the extractions of oil from the several Gold Coast 

 varieties, the deficiency is very marked. Compare 

 Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, vol. vii. (1909), 

 pp. 364-71. 



A close examination of the local fruit shows that the 

 outer fibrous portion or pericarp, which alone contains 

 the palm oil, is very thin, whereas the hard shell sur- 

 rounding the kernel is thick. The kernel represents about 

 15 per cent, of the total weight of the fruit, and is largely 

 exported from the country for the extraction of another 

 kind of oil. 



Small Export of Oil compared with Kernels. The propor- 

 tionately larger weight of kernel than of palm oil capable 

 of extraction, accounts for the large quantities of kernels 

 exported compared with palm oil. As an example of this, 

 it may be mentioned that in the year 1906 Sierra Leone 

 exported only 12J gallons of palm oil to each ton of 

 kernels, whereas Southern Nigeria figures for the same 

 year showed 142 gallons of oil per ton of kernels. Since 

 this date, up to the beginning of the war, a comparison 

 of the annual exports of oil and kernels shows a fluctua- 

 tion between about 12 and 19 gallons of pericarp oil for 

 every ton of kernels ; the latter still remaining dis- 

 proportionately high. 



Proposal to introduce New Varieties. Since it has begun 

 to be realised that the local variety of palm is probably 

 constantly inferior as an oil producer to some of the 

 varieties found farther to the south, it has been sug- 

 gested that some of the forms, with a thicker fibrous 

 pericarp and a thin-shelled kernel, should be introduced 

 and planted upon an extensive scale. It is assumed that 

 by doing so, a better type would become established. 

 Experiments made in the Kamerun show, however, 

 that the progeny of palms having a thin-shelled fruit 

 (Lisombe) do not necessarily retain their important 

 characters. Dr. Strunk has suggested that, in the variety 

 mentioned, the characters are not fixed or susceptible 

 of transmission, but the experiments are not con- 

 sidered as yielding conclusive evidence, and it is advisable 

 that experimental plots should be planted with the 

 more useful forms in Sierra Leone and elsewhere, 

 the seed being obtained from artificially fertilised 

 sources. 



