December, 1908. J 



51 S 



OILS AND FATS. 



WAX-EXCRETING PALMS. 



Among the most interesting members 

 of the palm family are one or two 

 species which excrete wax and deposit 

 on their leaves or on their stems. Pro- 

 bably the best known of these is the 

 Carnauba palm of Brazil (Copernicia 

 cerifera), while a second has latterly 

 become known as the wax palm of 

 Colombia (Ceroxylon andicola). An 

 article dealing with these palms and 

 the commercial uses to which the wax 

 excreted by them may be put, appeared 

 in a recent number of the Gardeners 

 Chronicle. It was mentioned in the 

 Agricultural Neivs(Vo\. VI., p. 375) that 

 specimens of the Carnauba palm exist 

 in the Botanic Gardens in British Guiana, 

 and seeds from these have been distri- 

 buted to the Botanic Stations through- 

 out the West Indies. 



In the forests of Pernambuco and 

 Bahia the Carnauba palm is found in 

 great number. The tree grows to a 

 height of 40 feet and measures to about 

 1 foot in diameter at its base. The wax 

 is excreted and deposited on the under 

 side of the leaves, and the collection of 

 this produ3t has of late years become 

 an important industry. 



The wax is either scraped from the 

 leaves on the tree, or the leaves them- 



selves are gathered from the tree and 

 the wax is afterwards removed. Since 

 the product so obtained is in an impure 

 state, and contains a large admixture 

 of resin and other materials, it is melted, 

 the impurities are removed by skim- 

 ming, and the wax is run into moulds 

 to harden. 



Carnauba wax was, until recently, 

 used in the manufacture of candles and 

 also as a basis for such articles as boot 

 polishes. The discovery of the fact that 

 this wax was of special value for the 

 purpose of making phonograph and 

 gramaphone records, led immediately 

 to a greater demand for the product 

 and also to a large increase iii its value. 

 About 2,000 tons of the wax are annually 

 exported from Brazil, aud its value is 

 placed at anything from £100 to £200 

 per ton. 



The wax palm of Colombia excretes 

 wax which is deposited not on the 

 leaves, but on the trunk of the trees and 

 is frequently found between the scars 

 left on the trunk by the petioles of the 

 leaves, in deposits so thick that it can 

 be removed in flakes. The average 

 annual yield of one tree is said to be 

 about 25 lb. At present there is but a 

 local demand for the wax, and it is used 

 by the people of Colombia for making 

 candles. — Agricultural News, Vol. VII., 

 No. 165, August, 1908. 



