60& 



seed have supplied the Director with the following particulars 



as to the method of extraction. 



preliminary 



direct into the press and treated at ordinary atmospheric tempera- 

 ture thus producing the first quality of cold drawn oil. The 

 cakes made in this first pressing, after the oil has ceased to flow^ 

 are taken from the press and reduced to meal, which goes back 

 to the Kettle, and for this second pressing steam is admitted to 

 the steam chamber or jacket of tlie Kettle, provision also being 

 made to admit a small portion of live steam to the interior cf the 

 Kettle should this be necessary in order to enable the remainder 

 of the oil to flow more readily. This second pressing is carried 

 out with the material heated to a temperature of about 180'' F. 

 There is another quality of oil also produced, by pressing the seed 

 at a temperature of about 90° F, When treating the seed at 



atmosphe 



8-20 



heated up to a temperature of 90° the oil remaining in the cakes 

 would be got down to about 10-12 per cent. ; but in pressing in 

 this way the oil would be somewhat discoloured instead of being 

 practically white as when pressing cold. All three of these 

 qualities of oil are passed through a filter press with an admixture 

 of Fullers-earth. 



em 



Seed are known as the '' Premier " type, the pressing boxes 

 being perforated over their entire circumference wdth minute 

 holes for the escape of the oil ; the larger presses being con- 



smaller 



working 



5-10 



an annual ; the cultivation is comparatively easy. Seeds may- 

 be sown on well i3repared ground at distances of about 6 ft., 

 they germinate quickly and the plants come to maturity in about 

 6 months. It is recommended to encourage branching, to pinch 

 out the toj) of the main stem when a foot or two high. The 

 seeds are gathered by cutting off the spikes when fully developed ; 

 but before the capsules open and com2:>leting the ripening under 

 cover. Dry or well drained soils are suitable; but the plant 



a moderate rainfall. 



chmate 



In Nigeria, commonly planted in compounds or growing in 

 waste places (Dalziel, Hausa Bot. Voc. p. 107). In 1905, it was 

 proposed to plant up some acres at Onitsha for the purpose of 

 extracting the oil from the seeds and arrangements were being 

 made to get several varieties of seed and to select from them 

 the best kind, when it was suggested oil-pressing plant would be 

 introduced (Thompson, Rep, Govt. Plantation at Onitsha S. Nig. 

 Govt. Gaz., July 21st, 1905, p. 390). In 1906 it was reported 

 that the variety growTi in the Oka district is the most suitable 

 for cultivation at Onitsha, considering yield per acre, size and 



