September, 1912.J 



220 



wild state, bearing fruit (according to Mahawalatenne Ratem abalmaya) 

 in about three years. As the result of experiments made in the Technical 

 College at Hanover a trial order was received last year for one ton of 

 shelled nuts at Rs. 12 50 per cwt. delivered in Colombo. 



Recently a correspondent from the Philippines drew attention to the 

 fact that the tree is very common in the Philippine Archipelago and that 

 a demand had sprung up for the oil for varnibb and other purposes, the 

 price paid for the kernels being £1-2 per picul of 133 lb., "which," says our 

 correspondent, " puts them almost in the same class as copra." The ship- 

 ment of the nuts from one Province alone last year is said to have exceeded 

 £2,000 in value. This suggests the possibility of a local industry in a 

 valuable oil and manurial cake by saving the tree from the timber trader 

 and exploiting it in the wild state, and even by planting up new areas. 



Investigations and Reports. 



The Director of the Imperial Institute writes under the date July 22 

 last : " With further reference to your despatch No. 713, Miscellaneous, of 

 November 29, 1911, and to my letter No. 6511 1912 of February 16th last, I 

 have the honour to inform you that the consignment of mee (Bansia longi- 

 folia) kernels referred to therein was duly received at the Imperial Insti- 

 tute from the Secretary of the Ceylon Agricultural Society, who inquired 

 in letter No. 796 of March 26, 1912, whether about 3 tons of the kernels per 

 season would be saleable in the United Kingdom at £12 or £13 per ton. 



" I have been in communication on this subject with (a) the firm 

 referred to in my letter No. 3,1671 1911 of August 25, 1911, who are importers 

 and crushers of oilseeds, and (6) an important firm of soap manufacturers, 



"(a) The oilseed crushers, after examining a sample from the consign" 

 ment. ieported that the solid fat yielded by the kernels would be very 

 useful for the manufacture of hard soap. They valued the kernels at £12. 

 5s. to £12. 10s. per ton (May, 1912), delivered in bags ex ship Hull. With 

 reference, however, to the question as to whether three tons of mee 

 kernels would be saleable in the United Kingdom, they pointed out that 

 they would not be able to take up this product unless they could be 

 certain of receving at least 500 to 1,000 tons per season. If the price were 

 suitable they could purchase even larger quantities. 



" In reponse to a suggestion that the three tons of mee kernels might 

 be mixed for crushing with mowra kernels from elsewhere, until large 

 supplies were available from Ceylon, the firm stated that they were not 

 working mowra kernels at present, as they were unable to obtain them 

 at a reasonable price. 



" (£>) The soapmakers reported that the mee kernels were comparable 

 with mowra seed, the present market price of which was from £12 to £13 

 per ton, but they also were unwilling to buy so small a quantity as three 

 tons. 



"Consignments of only a few tons of mee kernal would be difficult to 

 sell, and in any case could not be expected to realize their full value, A 

 remunerative export trade will probably not be possible until consign- 

 ments of at least 100 tons can be shipped from Ceylon, but when this can 

 be done the kernels, if in good condition, will sell readily at prices compar° 

 ing favourably with the market price of mowra kernels." 



