Palaeontologie. — Agricultur, Horticultur und Forstbotank. ()21 



that ot" a simple horseshoe curve orientated vvith the convex side to- 

 wards the inain axis. The petioles apparently come off from the 

 axis equally on all sides, and bend slowly away from it. They are 

 small on leaving the axis, but rapidly increase until they greatly 

 exceed the axis in diameter. 



The main axis is cylindrical in form, and the external surface 

 was apparently smooth. The steie was a solid monostele, of the 

 simplest type. The phloem lay outside the xylem. The cortex is 

 badly preserved. The phyllotaxy appears to be exceedingly near 

 to, if not actually, - •,, and the spiral was a close one. No „axillary 

 shoot" has been observed. 



No foliage is associated with the specimen, though there are 

 suggestions that the leaves were Compound. Several small annulate 

 sporangia are however scattered among the petioles and roots, though 

 not in organic connection, and these have a well-marked annulus 

 on one side only. 



The author concludes that this new fossil is closely allied to 

 T. Solenites Corda, but is specifically distinct. It appears to be one 

 of the simpler Botryopierideae, and to have no direct affinity with 

 any living Fern. Arber (Cambridge). 



Anonymus, Cola. (Kew Bulletin. 1906. p. 89—91.) 



On the West coast of Africa where Cola nuts are exten- 

 sively used a variety kown as „Laboshi" Cola is especially valued. 

 Speclmens collecfed by Mr. W. R. Elliott at Labogie in 

 N. Nigeria solved the question of the source of this superior kind, 

 which has only two cotyledons, whereas the less prized Ashanti 

 Cola has four or five. This Laboshi Cola has been identified as 

 Cola acuininaia Schott, and Endl. {Cola vera K. Schum.). Dr. 0. Stapf 

 reviews the synonomy of the species. 



Notes f/om Dr.' Grüner in „Der Tr openpf lanz e r " are 

 added on the Cola industry of the Gold Coast Colon y. 



W. G. Freeman. 



Cousins, H. h., Cassava Trials. !II. (Bulletin Dept. Agriculture 

 Jamaica. Vol. IV. April 1906. p. 73—76.) 



The accounts of previous trials have already been noted. The 

 author arrives at the following general conclusions regarding the 

 production of starch from Cassava (Manihot iitilissima) in 

 Jamaica. 



1. Under the conditions at the Hope botanic Gardens, and 

 without Irrigation a yield of IO'/j tons of roots at 12 months, 15'/-' tons 

 at 15 months and nearly 22 tons per acre at 21 months has been 

 recorded. 



2. The indicated yield of starch has risen from 3'/-' tons at 

 12 months to 5'/'i. at 15 months and 7'm tons at 21 months growth. 



3. This yield has been obtained at a cost of about 5 £ 

 per acre, and it is clear that enormous crops can be produced in 

 Jamaica at a cost to enable potato starch to be supplanted in the 

 British market. 



4. Cassava can be grown in Jamaica to give large yields on 

 soils and with a rainfall not sufficient to give good crops of sugar 

 cane without Irrigation. Large areas of land at present producing 

 little or nothing could be employed profitably for the growth of 

 Cassava for starch manufacture. W. G. Freeman. 



