1647 
Woody fiber 7.30 per cent 
Nitrogen-free extractive matter 28.45 per cent 
"These seeds are flat, irregularly circular in 
shape and about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. The single 
seeds average 4.9 grams in weight. The Imperial In- 
stitute reported as follows: 
"'The seeds consist approximately of fibrous husk 
11 per cent, shell 38 per cent, and kernel 51 per cent.' 
"A previous investigator has recorded 7, 33, and 
60 per cent of fibrous husk, shell, and kernel re- 
spectively. The kernel yields 56.9 per cent of slightly 
reddish-brown oil." 
"The oil from seeds from Zanzibar gave the fol- 
lowing analysis: 
Specific gravity at 15°C. 0.919 
Acid value 2.6 
Saponification 196. 
Iodine value 89. 
"This is a non-drying oil, and has a pleasant, 
slightly sweet taste. It would be suitable for soap 
manufacture, and also as an edible oil. The seed is* 
used by Europeans in this colony both as a nut and as 
a flavoring for cakes. 
"The reason that these seeds are not more used 
is due to the hardness of the shell and the diffi- 
culty of removing it, as well as to the intensely bit- 
ter, green skin which separates the kernel from the 
shell. If a method could be found for removing the 
tough fibrous husks and this bitter skin, it would ap- 
pear that the seed would be of considerable commercial 
value,, both for its edible oil and for the manufacture 
of soap, as well as for the resultant oil cake which 
probably would make a good cattle feed. It would be 
Impossible, however, to use the cake after pressing 
the unhusked seeds on. account of the skin mentioned 
above. 
"A German syndicate of soap and candle manufac- 
turers at Mannheim has investigated the possibilities 
of these seeds but they expressed the opinion that it 
would be inadvisable to place consignments of these 
seeds on the European market until a machine had been 
invented for rapidly and cheaply shelling them. 
"These seeds grow very rapidly In any placewhich 
is not touched by frost. The pod containing the seed 
is about a foot in diameter when ripe. The vine climbs 
over neighboring trees and requires no care." (Eells.) 
"I am rather hopeful that the plant will succeed 
at Washington, growing as a perennial and dying to 
the ground each year." (Shantz.) 
