Evening star., 1915-03-11
PALM KERNEL OIL HIT
BY THE EUROPEAN WAR
Little Known African Industry Was
Beginning to Assume Large
Proportions.

Palm kernels and the palm kernel oil
trade in Africa have been hard hi, by
the present var in Europe says a state
ment issued by the National Geographic:
Society. palm kernel oil manufacture
has hitherto been among those industries
OF which the world seldom hears. Modern
civilization, however. consumes vast
quantities of this article and its demands
for the oil are steadily and rapidly grow
ing.
The oil palm is native of west trop-
ical Africa, and its exploitation has re-
malned almost entirely in the hands of
the Germans and British. The Gernla MS
have taken the leading part in the up
building of this industry and. with their
activity war-smothered. Il serious fa'i'n~
off in the output of palm oil is 10 be ex-
pected.
Native Methods Wasteful.
'"rhe west African natives extracted the
Oil, and used 1t for food. for t...,., -
poses and for barter with the white man
Their method Of obtaining the oil was
wasteful and tedious and in recent years
the natives have practically .os, all ia
In, the commerce. Palm kernel oil is
said to be the oldest staple in the west
African coast trade.
For a long time palm kernel oil
brought into commerce for the exclusive
uses of the soap-naker and the chandler
Today It has scores of uses. and rs ne.d
for employment is widening steadily. The
annual west African turnover of this
little-known business has reached
sec. 600, 900.
'Deodorized by hydrogen, palm oil is
The glycerin constituents of nitrogly-
cerin are being derived more and more
from palm oil. This product, further
has a number of medicinal uses; it is en-
ployed IN the arts. and in the n1anufac-
ture of soap. metal polish and lubricants
With secure future ahead Of 1t
the palm kernel oil industry before
the war was attracting capital and
manifolding of this articles uses made
even greater demands upon the pro-
ducers. The palm oil orchard was be-
ginning to pusf, the rubber plantation
and the orange grove Investments for
popularity.
Developed by Germans.
Germany. the land Of scientific
methods and extract organization. de-
veloped this trade and centered the
manufacture of its raw material in
Hamburg. Here large mills were
opened. the palm kernel oil was won
and the residue was prepared as palm
kernel cake and meal. The by-product
has been found to be an exceptionally
good feed for dairy cattle. The oil was
also extracted to some extent in Liver
pool. Great Britain and Germany prac-
tically controlled the trade between
them, though several other countries
have been small producers.
Those interested in the oil insist
that the manufacturers of soaps and
margerines will always be ready to
take any quantity that may become
available. Since the outbreak of the
war the supply has been largely cut
down and this setback may result in
drawing several of the neutral nations
into the producing field.
"One ton of kernel produces 1000
pounds of Oil or the kernels yield be-
tween as and SO per cent oil. The palm
kernel cake has played an important
part in Germany's dairy development
been found unusually valuable. 1t in
creases the milk yield, improves the
butterfat and enriches the coloring of
the butter"