22 



Oils of Southern India, [no. 5, newseries, 



The Cocoanul palm thrives best near the sea coast, although it 

 sometimes'grows favorably on inland plains, the soil of which contains 

 a large proportion of silex and soda or salt which are the sub- 

 stances chiefly required for its nourishment. In South America salt is 

 largely used as a manure. The tree begins to bear about the 7th 

 or 8th year, the annual produce being from 70 to 100 nuts. At the 

 Tanjore local Exhibition in March 1856, a bunch of Cocoanuts con- 

 taining no less than 70 nuts on a single stalk was exhibited. Each 

 tree is calculated to yield at least 2 J gallons of oil per annum, and the 

 coir obtained from the nuts is estimated to yield one fourth of the 

 value of the oil, whilst the oil cake is very valuable for cattle and as 

 a manure. The Elephant beetle (Oryctes Rhinoceros) is a great 

 enemy of this tree, it begins by nibbling the leaves into the shape 

 of a fan, and then attacks the main shoot into which it bores, and 

 unless speedily extracted, infallibly destroys the tree. 



No. 2. Gingeley oil. (Sesamum orientale.) 



The Sesamum and its varieties are grown throughout the coun- 

 try. So universal is the use of this oil, that its name in almost 

 all the vernacular languages signifies " the oil." 



The mode of extraction sometimes adopted is that of throwing 

 the fresh seeds without any cleansing process, into the common 

 mill and expressing in the usual way. The oil thus becomes mixed 

 with a large portion of the coloring matter of the epidermis of the 

 seed, and is neither so pleasant to the eye nor so agreeable to the 

 taste as that obtained by first repeatedly washing the seeds in cold 

 water, or by boiling them for a short time until the whole of the 

 reddish brown coloring matter is removed, and the seeds have be- 

 come perfectly white; they are then dried in the sun, and the oil ex- 

 tracted as usual. 



In expressing this oil, the Natives of the Northern division always 

 add the bark of the Tanghedi (Cassia auriculata), or the Babool 

 gum to the seed to be pressed, this is probably done with a view of 

 enhancing the value of the cake, which is used as an article of food 

 for man and beast. 



The value of this oil England was £47-10 per ton in January 

 1855, and £49 to £53-10 in January 1856. In different parts of 



