OIL PALM 101 



The above are the three most marked forms of oil 

 palm recognisable, although other varieties are given 

 special names by natives in different parts of the country, 

 distinctions being frequently made between the fruit from 

 trees which assume a tall growth and those which remain 

 stunted. (Cf. also Bull. Imp. lust., 1909, p. 362 ; and 

 1920, p. 223.) 



As far as investigations have progressed, the advantage 

 with regard to yield of oil as well as quality is maintained 

 by the thin-shelled variety, the greater proportion of 

 pericarp enabling a larger amount of pericarp oil to be 

 expressed, while the thin kernel-covering facilitates 

 the extraction of the kernel. Before being able to 

 definitely state that this variety is of the greatest 

 economic value, it is necessary that a comparison of 

 the weight of the annual crops from all varieties should 

 be made. 



The advisability of planting any particular variety of 

 oil palm would in the first place depend on the results 

 obtained from the complete investigation of all ; but at 

 the present time such a project on a large scale is not 

 likely to be practicable, as it is generally acknowledged 

 that only a comparatively small proportion of the existing 

 wild trees are at present utilised. 



Experiments in the Kamerun, with different varieties 

 of oil palms, seemed to indicate that the thin- shelled 

 character was not a fixed one. In 1910 a forest officer 

 in Nigeria was detailed to study the distribution, 

 cultivation and preparation of the oil, of the most 

 appreciated varieties, and a quantity of nuts of the soft- 

 shelled " Lisombe " kind from the Kamerun were dis- 

 tributed for planting among the natives of the Eastern 

 Province. 



The export figures of this trade from 1910 to 1918 are 

 tabulated below. Up to the year 1914, those of Northern 

 were separated from those of Southern Nigeria. In this 

 account, subsequent to that year, the two sets of figures 

 have been taken together. A quantity of kernels is im- 

 ported from Dahomey, for re-export, amounting in 1910 

 to 21,120 tons. The figures indicate that the increase 

 has been irregular, and, during the last few years, has 

 been influenced by the war. In 1919 here, as in the other 

 W. African Colonies, a differential export tax of 2 per 

 ton was imposed, with respect to palm kernels. 



