( 22 ) 
The fruit bunches should be gathered systematically 
as soon as they are ripe, and carried to collecting 
sheds. Here they are stored on open racks for three 
of four days until the fruits fall from the bunch on 
to the trays below. The loose fruit is then collected 
and transported to the factory, where the oil is to 
be extracted. Great care is necessary in the handling 
of the fresh fruit; in no circumstances should it 
be allowed to remain in heaps, otherwise it will 
ferment, resulting in a large increase in the acidity 
of the oil. 
Composition of Fruit. — The following table shows 
approximately the average composition of the fruit 
grown locally: — 
( Moisture S3 per cent. 
/Pericarp 58 per cent, ... ... Palm Oil 53 „ 
l Residue 14 „ 
RUIT | , , . .. 0 _ 
| Shell 8o per cent. 
vNut 42 ,, (Moisture 15 per cent. 
( Kernel 15 „ - Palm K. Oil 43 „ 
(Residue 42 ,, 
Proportion of Palm oil on whole fruit = 31 per cent. 
„ „ Kernel oil on „ „ = 7 „ „ 
Yields . — Individual palms may produce from 6 to 
10 bunches per annum, whilst the weight of picked 
fruit may vary from 75 to 150 lbs. per palm per 
annum according to age. With palms planted 55 to 
the acre, a fair estimate of the annual production 
would be 1,250 lbs. of palm oil and 330 lbs. of kernels 
.per acre in the sixth year, increasing to 2,400 lbs. 
of palm oil and 650 lbs. of kernels per acre in full 
bearing. 
Extraction *of Oil. — The African oil palm fruit con- 
tains two distinct oils, namely palm oil, present in 
the flesh or pericarp, and palm kernel oil, contained 
in the kernel. As previously stated, the treatment 
