130 FORESTRY, OF WEST AFRICA. 



product is apparently too unfamiliar to commercial 

 men to enable any positive opinion to be expressed 

 as to whether Ogea will be useful to the manufacturer 

 or not. But it is thought not to be without promise 

 for the purpose of varnish-making." 



In July, 1883, Mr. Ingham Clark had tested in his 

 laboratory the "ogea'' (specimens of which for the 

 purpose I supplied to him), when it was found to 

 answer somewhat to the peculiarities of Accra copal, 

 containing a fair amount of acid and essential oil, and 

 having a melting point of about 420° Fah. He was of 

 the opinion that it would require a heat of 600° Fah. 

 to " run " it, viz. to melt it sufficiently liquid to enter 

 into complete union with linseed oil. 



The laboratory report was as follows : 



"This gum has all the character and appearance 

 of that known in the market as ' Accra ' copal, the 

 sample submitted for testing being of an inferior 

 character, dirty and dusty. It gave a melting point 

 of 420°, which in itself is excellent ; but being of a dry 

 nature, requires at least 600° Fah. to fuse ; and being 

 strong in a characteristic acid, melts dark in colour, 

 which would affect materially its value commercially." 



Mr. Ingham Clark has since informed me that with 

 better care in selecting and roughly cleaning, or even 

 sifting, a better result might be obtained, as " ogea " 

 was a hard fossilized resin, and therefore should be of 

 a considerable value. 



The tree blossoms about June, and fruits in July ; 



