520 MINOR PRODUCTS OF CEYLON 



of the plant has been undertaken in Ceylon a few years ago, when 

 the seeds were sold in London for 70s. to 80s. per cwt., but a large 

 shipment speedily reduced the price, and the cultivation soon 

 declined. The product is, however, still cultivated here to some 

 extent, the export of the seed in 1912 being given as 785 cwt., valued 

 at 2,197. The present price of the seed in Colombo varies from 

 Rs. 22 per cwt. upwards, according to quality and demand. 



Kitul Palm ; Toddy Palm. (Caryota urens). A very handsome 

 palm, indigenous to Ceylon, with large spreading bipinnate leaves. 

 From the young flower raceme is obtained, by means of tapping, 

 a copious flow of sweet sap, which upon boiling yields a quantity 

 of sugar or jaggery. In a fermented state it is distilled to produce 

 arrack. Each flower raceme is said to continue to yield for 1^ to 

 4 months, producing on average from a half to 2 gallons toddy a 

 day, or a single tree an annual yield of about 180 gallons. 



Kola-nut; "Bissy" or " Gooroo nuts." (Cola acuminata. 

 Sterculiaceae). A small tree, 30 to 40 feet high, indigenous to 

 West Tropical Africa, cultivated for its large white or pink seeds, 

 which become reddish brown when dried. It bears warty oblong 

 pods, 4 to 6 inches long, which contain from four to ten or more 

 seeds. The latter are highly prized as a masticatory in tropical 

 Africa on account of their stimulating and sustaining properties, 

 due to the presence of the alkaloid caffeine (also found in coffee), 

 and to a small extent of theobromine (active principle of cacao). 

 The dried nuts (seeds) are imported into Europe, etc., and used in 

 medicine as well as for the manufacture of kola wine and other 

 beverages. As a vegetable product, the Kola-nut ranks next in 

 importance to the Oil-palm (Elaeis) in West Tropical Africa. The 

 tree was introduced into Ceylon in 1879, and has become estab- 

 lished in the moist low-country up to about 1,600 feet, being 

 cultivated to a small extent as a minor product in conjunction with 1 

 tea; the seeds are simply dried and exported. Kola-nuts occur under 

 two different species, viz., Cola acuminata and C. vera. The seeds 

 of the former possess four cotyledons, and those of the latter 

 (supposed to be the more valuable) only two. 



The tree is propagated from seed, which must be sown per- 

 fectly fresh ; it bears fruit when six or seven years old, producing 

 two crops a year, equivalent of 500 to 800 pods, or about 50 to 120 

 Ib. of seeds per tree. In cultivation, the trees should be planted 

 about 18 feet apart each way. The product is prepared for the 

 market by merely drying in the sun. In 1890, kola-nuts were 



