82 



and inchuling, the Cameroons to the East, and Sierra T^one to 

 the West. In these, countries, it grows under the conditions in- 

 herent to native cultivation. It is however, cultivated to a certain 

 extent in Jamaica where it was brought, some eighty years ago, by 

 slave ships. It is therefore fully acclimatised there, and it thrives 

 quite as well as in its own habitat — and an export trade of some 

 importance has been established. It is also cultivated, on a small 

 scale in other islands of the West Indies, in the French Antilles 

 and, also, I believe, in the island of Bourbon. The exports from 

 Java to the Xetherlands amounted to: 10937 Kilos in 1909,-13000 

 Kilos in 1910, — 11000 Kilos in 1911 (van Gorkum). 



But, except in the case of one C'ompany in the Gold Coast 

 territory, and one in Sierra Leone, I am not aware that the culti- 

 vation of Cola has been anywhere undertaken on a large scale, 

 under systematic conditions, such as obtain on our large estates of 

 rubber, cocoa or tea ; it seems, so far, to have escaped the keen 

 attention of the planter. Yet, we are not without some data as to 

 its behaviour under cultural treatment. Mr. W. Fawcett, a well- 

 known authority on things Jamaican, speaking from experience, 

 states : " that the Cola tree is propagated from seeds and will begin 

 " to bear after four or five years. There are trees near the Botanic 

 " Gardens at Castleton, which were planted over 50 years ago, still 

 "" in perfect health, and bearing fruit regularly." This was written 

 nearly forty years ago. 



" The trees should be planted about 20 feet apart they 



"grow about 40 feet in height. Those near Castleton produce 

 " from 500 to 800 pods each crop. If each pod contains, on a 

 *' moderate calculation, four seeds, and if we say 50 seeds to a 

 ^' quart — tlien a tree with 600 pods will give 50 quarts of nuts twice 

 ■"a year, or 100 quarts per tree per year (there are two crops in a 

 "year). A quart of dry nuts will weigh a little over 1^ pound = 

 *' 125 pounds per tree. A tree in full bearing, and under careful 

 "cultivation, would probably produce 150 pounds of nuts a year" 

 (Kew Bulletin, 1881). 



It will be noticed that in the above statement dry nuts are 

 specified. The weight of fresh nuts would be about one quarter 

 to one third more. 



In the Cameroons, we are told, one hundred trees were plant- 

 ed in 1904, and manured later on, wdth the result that the trees 

 were in fruit in 1907, and in 1908 the crop was abundant. 



In Western Africa, according to various authorities, the gross 

 output of a tree varies in value from 20 francs, in bad years; to 

 75 francs in good year. In the Cameroons, Dr. Bernegau puts the 

 money value of the crop at 50 marks per 3'ear per tree. Newland 

 puts it at 30 sliillings in Sierra Leone, and he adds: " ITiider 

 " proper cultivation a (^ola tree should yield double that revenue." 

 i.e. 60 shillings. 



The report of the Agricultural Station of Tarquah (Gold 

 Coast) issued by the Government of the Gold Coast, for 1915, says: 

 " The station has 29 acres under Kola, planted in 1909. The 

 " majority of the trees have made excellent growth : the oldest trees 



