PALM OIL AND KERNELS 69 



employed at the Krobo Plantations, but the operation 

 varies slightly in different districts. 



Kernel Oil. The value of the kernel for the extraction 

 of oil was recognised at a much later date than thd 

 pericarp, although, in a few places in the Gold Coast, 

 oil had probably been expressed from" kernels for local 

 consumption for some time. Among the Krobos the 

 medicine-men prevented the trade in kernels from 

 becoming established for several years, but they were 

 finally overruled by the chiefs. A large and increasing 

 trade in kernels continued for a number of years, but 

 this has fallen off to a small extent more recently. 

 The shell of the variety of kernel which appears to be 

 the most common in this country is usually thick, and 

 the laborious work of cracking each stone individually 

 between two stones, in such a manner that the kernel is 

 extracted in an unbroken state, prevents a larger quantity 

 being prepared for sale, and results in much waste. 

 Nut-cracking machines have been brought into the 

 country, and are said to prove successful to some extent, 

 but the native is not in a position to use machinery, 

 and most of the material shipped is extracted in the 

 primitive method mentioned. Cf . Bulletin of the Imperial 

 Institute, vols. vii., viii. and xv. (1909-17). Before the 

 cracking can be accomplished without breaking the 

 interior, the kernel requires to be exposed to the sun 

 and thoroughly dried. Kernel oil prepared in a native 

 way is of two kinds, one which expressed without heat 

 being white, whilst that made from the roasted kernels 

 is dark brown. Both are made by pounding and 

 grinding the kernel into fine meal, the extraction of the 

 one being effected by cold and the other by boiling water. 



In 1916 a Special Committee was appointed to consider 

 the position of the palm-kernel trade, chiefly with refer- 

 ence to the protection of the newly-established British oil- 

 crushing industry against German competition ; and it 

 was considered advisable to recommend the imposition 

 of a differential export duty of 2 per ton on all palm 

 kernels from British West African ports. The Colonies 

 concerned imposed the duty at the rate mentioned and 

 in some instances have since supplemented it by a direct 

 revenue-producing tax. 



Commercial Uses. The chief commercial uses of the oils 



