74 AGRICULTURE IN THE TROPICS [PT. II 



for alcoholism, a stimulus to cheerfulness ; in fact they take the 

 place of tobacco and other things in other countries. 



The Kola tree (Cola acuminata, and perhaps other species) 

 has been introduced into other countries in the tropics, e.g. into 

 Ceylon, but has not proved sufficiently profitable to form the 

 basis of any important industry, and the export is as yet prac- 

 tically entirely from West Africa. The tree is closely related 

 to the cacao, and grows about 20 to 45 feet high, with panicles 

 of flowers which give rise to strings of fruits, each fruit having 

 two to six rays, each ray a pod containing a few seeds, for which 

 the tree is cultivated. The essential principle in these is caffein, 

 and they contain about 2-|/ of it, or a good deal more than 

 coffee does. The nut containing also a full third of its weight 

 of starch, besides other matters, forms a good food stuff, as does 

 cacao, and were it not for its unpleasant flavour would probably 

 compete very closely with the latter ; so far, however, it has only 

 come into use when mixed with cacao, and in certain drinks. 



The tree is rarely planted in plantations, but is cleared in 

 the forest, or forms part of the mixed cultivation of the West 

 Africans. It begins to bear at about seven years old, and 

 produces perhaps about 50 fruits a year on the average. The 

 principal crop is in December, and there is a second in April. 



The seeds are gathered, and left for a few days, when the 

 seed coats can be easily rubbed off, and they are then packed in 

 leaves, and kept damp, so as to travel as fresh as possible. For 

 export they are carefully dried in the sun. The value of the 

 exports from the Gold Coast Colony in 1919 was about 250,000. 



By mixing it with cacao, a considerable quantity of kola 

 has been gradually brought into consumption in England. 



Guaran. This plant (Paullinia Cupana is a good deal 

 used in South America, but is hardly exported. The tree is 

 not unlike the cacao tree. The fruits are collected, and laid in 

 water to loosen the skin, which is then removed and the fruits 

 dried by the fire. An infusion like chocolate is made from them. 

 They contain a high percentage of cafein, and would be useful 

 for mixing with other drinks, as they have but little flavour. 

 Excellent aerated drinks are made from them in Brazil. 



