FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 43 



tracts of country that lie covered by this beautiful 

 tree, commercially to the Elais gidneensis, when I 

 say that on an average a palm-tree is supposed to 

 yield 2oIbs. nuts a season (of which there are two) 

 and that a good crop should afford in oil 35 to 45% 

 of the weight. This is supported somewhat by the 

 fact that a gallon of palm oil weighs about 9 lbs. 

 The fruitfulness and size of palm-trees are dependent 

 on the soil. They bear in seven to twelve years, and 

 for thirty-five to forty years. According to native 

 estimate and wasteful process of manufacture it will 

 take 30 to 35 lbs. of palm-oil nuts to give a gallon 

 of palm oil. 



I have been further informed that 120 bunches of 

 palm nuts go to make six old wine gallons of oil, and 

 6,000 bunches to make a ton of palm oil ; but I would 

 be disposed to question the accuracy of this informa- 

 tion, as the yield would depend on size and richness 

 of the nuts and clusters. 



The nature and quality of this commodity vary 

 with locality and care in preparation. 



In the trade it is called " hard " when it contains a 

 larger proportion of " stearine," " soft " when it con- 

 tains a smaller proportion, and " medium " when it 

 sets after melting, whether hard or soft. 



The " hard " oil is exported chiefly from the Congo, 

 the Niger, Brass, New Calabar ; Saltpond, Appam, 

 Winnebah of the Gold Coast Colony ; is used by 

 candle manufacturers : while the " soft " oils from 



