Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 619

224

Ricksha Wheels. A similar service was undertaken for the District Commissioner of S. Nigeria with regard to the wholesale purchase of ricksha wheels.

Wood Oil.—Small samples of two kinds of wood-oil nuts were submitted for examin- ation to Professor DUNSTAN, Director of the Imperial Institute, in April. The reports on these are subjoined..

Imperial Institute.

(South Kensington, London, S.W.)

Report on the seeds of Aleurites triloba (candle-nuts) from Hongkong by Professor W.R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., Director.

A sample of the seeds of Aleurites triloba was forwarded for examination to the Imperial Institute by the Superintendent, Botanical and Forestry Department, Hongkong, with a letter dated the 6th April, 1906, in which it was stated that Aleurites triluba is one of the best shade trees in Hongkong, where it grows very quickly.

The seeds of this tree are commercially known as already exported from Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. for soap-making, both in this country and on the Continent.

Description of Sample.

""

candle nuts and the kernels are

The oil which they contain is used.

The sample consisted of four pounds of the seeds, the kernels of which were nearly white and free from discolouration.

Examination of the Oil.

The oil was extracted by means of light petroleum and the kernels were found to contain 608 per cent. of oil, which is equivalent to a yield of 19.8 per cent. from the unshelled seeds.

The oil appears to be particularly suitable for making soft soap and could also be used as a substitute for linseed oil in varnishes and paints.

Commerical Valuation of the Seeds.

The seeds were submitted to brokers who reported that unshelled seeds would be unsaleable here but that the kernels would realise from £12 to £13 per tou. It would there- fore be necessary to remove the shells from the nuts in Hongkong and to export the kernels only. No doubt this operation could be performed by hand, but, if desired, one of of the nut-cracking machines recently introduced could be adapted for the purpose.

If Aleurites triloba is sufficiently abundant in Hongkong to furnish commercial consign- ments of the kernels, it would be desirable to forward a trial shipment of a few tons for sale in London.

(sd.) W. R. DUNSTAN.

Imperial Institute.

(South Kensington, London, S.

W.)

Report on the Seeds of Aleurites Fordii from Hongkong by Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., Director.

A sample of the seeds of a species of Aleurites, which has since been identified at Kew as Aleurites Fordii Hemsl., was forwarded for examination to the Imperial Institute by the Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Department, Hongkong, with a letter dated the 5th April, 1906.