131 



cold water. For two hours afterward lie in bed, which facili- 

 tates the cleansing of the stomach ^nd the assimilation of the 

 phosphorus and nutritive substances." 



On Banana Diet Tzco Years. 



"I have not failed one day in the last two years to follow this 

 beneficial regime," said General Reyes, "and it has given me back 

 my health. Numerous friends in Patagonia, Chile, Ecuador, 

 Peru, Panama and other countries where I traveled and to whom 

 I gave this great remedy have affirmed its efficacy. 



"Unfortunately, it is difficult to change one's habits, and out 

 of perhaps one hundred individuals there will be but two who 

 possess the energy to follow it. The treatment relieves or cures 

 dyspepsia, heart-burn, disorders of the liver and kidneys, and 

 even obesity. For children it is excellent, also for weak and 

 anaemic persons. I give this great cure to the world, that every- 

 body may profit by the wise advice of Mr. Edison." 



PEARLS IN COCONUTS 



The best known home of pearls is the oyster shell, though 

 very fine pink pearls are found in conch shells, common on West 

 Indian beaches. The Queensland Agricultural Journal makes 

 reference to pearls in coconuts. It says : 



"In 1911, the then Governor of Queensland (Sir William Mac- 

 Gregor) obtained from Mr. T. A. Williams, of Sabai Island, 

 Torres Strait, valuable information on the subject of the dia- 

 meter of space to which root cords spread out from the base of 

 coconut trees, and courteously handed the report to us for pub- 

 lication. This appeared in the October issue of the Journal, 1911. 



"Whilst discussing the root question. His Excellency informed 

 us that in Hawaii (or Fiji?) he had been handed a coconut for 

 his refreshment, and that he found inside it a valuable pearl. 

 He saw the coconut opened, and was quite sure the pearl was not 

 dropped into it. He gave the pearl to a lady present, who after- 

 ward wore it at some court function in London. Singularly 

 enough, today we find in a book on 'Tropical Agriculture,' by 

 Dr. H. A. Alford Nicholls, the following remarkable confirmation 

 of the existence of pearls in coconuts. The author says, when 

 describing the various parts of the nut; 'Finally a very singular 

 and highly-prized pearl is found, under very rare circumstances, 

 in coconuts, and a specimen has lately been added to the Museum 

 of the Royal Gardens at Kew (1892).' " — Agricultural News. 



