3 



MIMUSOPS ELENGI SEEDS. 



The Bunga Tanjong (Mimusops elengi) a common cultivated 

 tree here, belongs to the order of Sapotaceoe, and as many of the 

 seeds of trees belonging to this order contain an oil of value, the 

 attention of Mr. Allan of the firm of Mr. Grosfield of Warrington 

 was called to this seed which on crushing was found to be very oily. 

 A number of seeds were collected and forwarded to the firm for 

 investigation. Messrs. GROSFIELD had the seeds submitted to 

 chemical analysis, with the result as shewn in the following letters. 

 The oil is said in Watt's Dictionary to be used in India for culinary 

 purposes burning and medicine, and also according to BEDDOME 

 it is employed by painters. A product however, which may be used 

 by natives in its country with some advantage, may not be of suffi- 

 cient value for the trade in Europe, as is the case with this plant. 



The following letters were received from Messrs. Grosfield: — 

 Dear Sir, 



We have examined the small parcel of seeds which you sent 

 on to our Mr. ALLAN, and enclose with this the results which have 

 been obtained. You will see that the material is practically useless 

 from a technical point of view, as the percentage of oil is so low 

 that its value probably would not pay the -freight from Singapore 

 to Europe, to say nothing of making a little return to the collectors. 



We are pleased to make such examinations as this, as besides 

 being interested in such matters from the point of view of possible 

 users of the materials under examination, we also have a natural 

 scientific interest in such investigations, and are prepared to exam- 

 ine any other materials of alike kind which you will take the trouble 

 to send to us. 



Yours faithfully, 

 For JOSEPH GROSFIELD & SONS, Ltd., 



J. A. 



REPORT ON SEEDS 



" Mimusops Elengi n 



Sent by H . N. Ridley, Esq., Botanic Gardens , Singapore. 



The seeds are of a flat bean shape and have a hard glossy brown 

 shell. 



Shell ... ... ... 59-9% 



Kernel ... ... ... 40* I ,, 



The kernel contains 14*47 % of oil which is equal to 5*8 % on the 

 whole seed. 



Constants of Oil. 



Saponification Equivalent ... 289*8 



Free Fatty Acid ... ... 2*4 % 



Iodine number ... ... 74*45 



Unsaponifiable ... ... 2*56 °£ 



Melting point of fatty acids ... 3i*3°C 



