530 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



In the case of the solvent extraction process 

 practically the whole of the oil is recovered 

 and consequently the cake is, comparatively 

 speaking, free. This is a most desirable 

 feature when the application of the residue is 

 for manurial purposes, because grease or oil in 

 any form acts as a deterrent from absorption of 

 the nitrogenous matters by the soil. 



Taking the soya-bean for example, in Man- 

 churia, where this bean is most largely culti- 

 vated, the oil is expressed in a rude form of 

 plant, so that the yield is poor, and as the 

 residue is shipped to Japan for use in the paddy 

 fields, not only a needless, but even a harmful, 

 waste of oil results, since its presence in the cake 

 used as a fertilizer in Japan prevents the full 

 benefits of the plant food from going into the soil. 



Now if central extraction factories were 

 established the percentage of oil extracted in 

 Manchuria would be greatly increased, and the 

 residue would be improved as a fertilizer to a 

 very important degree. 



Those interested in the manufacture of coco- 

 nut oil and its by-products will note that we 

 have said nothing about the conversion of the 

 oil into soap, or about the splitting up of the 

 oil into fatty acids (oleine and stearine) in order 

 to produce candles from the latter, with glycerine 

 as a by-product. This does not come within 

 the scope of our book, but we shall be pleased 

 to discuss the matter with anyone wishing to 

 follow it up. 



