Vol. IV. No. 76. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



71 



SCIENCE NOTES. 



structure and Germination of the Cocoa-nut. 



In the accompanying illustrations fig. .3 shows the 

 structure of the ripe cocoa-nut. S. is the lower part of the 

 axis forming the stem, and A. is the upper end of the axis 

 with scars of male flowers. 



The fruit of the cocoa-nut palm (Cocos miciftm) is 

 a large, one-seeded drupe. The outer shell, made up 

 of the epicarp (Epi.) and mesocarp (]\[es.), is of a fibrous 

 texture and yields the fibre or coir of commerce. The 

 next layer is the hard, bony 'shell.' This is the endocarp 

 (End.). It has three marks or 'eyes' (K.), which correspond 

 to the three loculi of the ovary. Through one of these 

 the young plant pushes its way when the seed germinates. 



The cavity of this inner shell is occupied by the seed, 

 which consists of a seed coat or testa (T. ), the thin, brown 

 membrane l)etween the ' meat ' and the inner shell, covering 

 a large, hollow layer of solid albumen (Alb.) termed endo- 

 sperm. The hollow space is partly filled with an unsolidified 

 sub.stance commonly known as ' milk.' In the endosperm, 

 beneath one of the marks (the softest) at the base of the nut, 

 is situated the embryo. 



The shoots burst through the outer shell as shown in fig. 4. 

 This figure shows the germinating cocoa-nut at the end of 



Mes 



-End 



Fiu. 3. Structure of the Coo'o.\-nut. x 1 

 [From Bulletin Torrey Botanical Ch(ll^^ 



Messrs. J. E. Kirkwood and Wm. .7. Gies state, 

 ill their paper on ' Chemical studies of. the Cocoa-nut,' 

 published in the Bulletin Torre;/ Botanical Cluh, from 

 which the accompanying illustrations are taken : ' The 

 thick husk is remarkably adapted to the preservation of the 

 seed whilst the nut is tossed about by the waves until it 

 reaches some shore, it may be, far distant from that on 

 which it grew. While immature the nut is without the solid 

 endo.sperm, but is filled with a milky fiuid. As it ripens, 

 however, the endosperm, gradually develops and the milky 

 juice diminishes in quantity.' 



In planting the nuts should be placed on their sides 

 in trenches in well-prepared nursery beds. 'When germina- 

 tion begins, the embryo elongates and, having jtushed through 

 its thin coverings, begins to enlarge at both ends. From 

 the outer end arise the plumule and the roots ; the inner end 

 is an extension of the true cotyledon and is developed into 

 a special absorbing organ.' 



Fif!. 4. C0C0.4.-NUT Seedling. 

 [From Bulletin Torrey Botanical Cluh.^ 



one year ; the husk is little altered except where it was in 

 contact with the earth. 



KOLA. IN WEST AFRICA. 



The Tropical Agrivulturittt foi- January contains 

 information on kola growing in West Africa, published 

 in Der Tropevptianzer by Dr. Gruner, who was 

 deputed by the German Colonial Economic Committee 

 to investigate the cacao and kola industries of West 

 Africa. The following e.Ktracts are like!}' to be of 

 interest : — 



The tree begins to bear in its sixth or seventh year, and 

 its yiekl gradually increases to an average of forty to fifty 

 fruits per annum. There are two kola seasons, the less 

 important in the .July rains and the principal at the 

 beginning of the dry season in November. The price in the 

 producing districts varies from 'M. to Is. per 100 nuts 



The export from the Gold Coast in 1900 was valued at 

 £43,133, and in 1901 at £35,024. Attention is also being 

 devoted to kola in the Botanic Gardens at Aburi. 



In Lagos, at the Oloke-Meji Experiment Station, 

 a nur.sery of 60,000 kola plants is at present maintained, and 

 large kola plantations are being formed in the colony. 



