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fifths of the total quantity of palm oil is consumed by the 
natives themselves, and barely one-fifth is exported. 
The export of palm oil from Kamerun remains steadily 
at about 3,000 tons, whereas in consequence of periodically 
occurring periods of drought the export from Togo fluctuates 
between 400 and 4,000 tons. It cannot be stated whether 
the market price affects the quantity exported. 
An increase in export may be attained by the following 
measures : — 
1. An extension of the districts capable of exporting by 
improvements in the means of communication (construction of 
railways). 
2. A more intensive utilization of the existing palms through 
better methods of cultivation. 
3. A better utilization of the crops obtained through 
improved methods of preparation. 
4. An increase in the existing number of palms by increased 
activity of the present producers or by the introduction of 
fresh producers (European plantation cultivation). 
The methods of preparing palm oil by machinery that have 
been elaborated within the last decade are of special interest, 
among which the process employed at the Agu plantation in 
Togo supplies the best palm oil obtained at the present time, 
containing only 5 to 6 per cent. of fatty acid. These methods 
make it possible for the cultivation of the oil palm to be taken 
up in the form of Kuropean plantations. 
[ Discussion. ] 
Mr. J. H. J. Farquuar (Conservator of Forests, Nigeria): 
Mr. Chairman—For nearly ten years I have been in Nigeria, 
where the whole wealth of the country is derived from agri- 
cultural and forest products. The natives in the Southern 
Provinces of Nigeria have their farms on which they grow 
food, but for their wealth they rely on the oil palm. Their 
methods, however, are very crude; and one of the things which, 
in my opinion, will assist in increasing the export of palm oil 
is the. importation and use of cheap de-pulping machinery. It 
would also be a great advantage to have mechanical presses for 
removing the oil from the pulp, because in the hand method 
used at present the native cannot apply sufficient pressure to 
extract anything like all the oil. In a great many cases the 
nuts are not cracked, and consequently the kernels are not 
available for export. It is clear from all this that one of the 
chief things necessary to extend the trade is simple machinery, 
and in that respect we need the help of engineers. Most of 
the hand machinery now available is too expensive for the 
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