257 
before the subject attracted attention in this country. In the Annual 
Report of the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Jamaica, for 
the qure ending 30th September 1882, the following note appeared on the 
bjec 
Cola nut.—“ This tree, which has lately attracted considerable 
attention, is common in many parts of the island under the name of 
Byssi,and seeds can be obtained, in quantity, if required for com- 
mercial purposes. Dr. Neish, of Port Royal, to whom I am indebted 
for a note on this product, remarks, ¢ what enhances the value of kola 
* nuts at the present time is the fact that citrate of caffe eine,—a medicine 
now much employed for the relief of sea-sickness, hU and 
nervous complaints,—can be readily obtained from these nuts, for the 
reason that the nuts contain more caffeine than coffee berries; and 
in the kola nut the caffeine is in the free or uncombined state. These 
nuts are likely to take their place in the market as furnishing a 
nutrient and stimulant beverage. Rich in the active principle of 
coffee. containing also a large proportion ed theobromine, the active 
principle of cacao, these nuts, in addition, contain three times the 
per-centage cf starch contained in ehocsldtél ; and, moreover, they. also 
contain less fat, so that, in addition to stimulant and nutritive pro- 
perties, there is the probability that a chocolate prepared from them 
— more readily agree with delicate stomachs.’ 
e Pacers made by Dr. Neish that a chocolate might be 
dine from the kola-nut seems a very appropriate one, for both the 
cacao and cola ids to the same natural order (Stercudiacee), and the — 
habits and characteristics of the two are very similar. ‘They both affect 
low, warm situations, and in view of the probable € for kola nuts, 
attention might very well be given to their cultivat 
he cola nut is very plentifully distributed nu Jamaica; - 
having probably, like the Akee (Blighia Sapida) and other West - 
African c been introduced by ie ships. (See Kew Report, 
1882, p. 19.) 
In the Annual Report of the Director of Public Gardens and Plan 
tions, J cone for the hen 2 30th September 1883, the following 
further note was given 
Cola nut.— This interesting plant is largely distributed in the 
nan llc 
island, and its cultivation is being extended in the hope that pee ee 
cola iri fa may become a recog nised article k commerce. 
ic and tonic. They are iit to have effected * 
macte! de eures in dyspepsia ‘and allied — E are used for 
this purpose in the same manner a is 
sugar, and milk. Some people use the cola vid ded of . [2 
water, 
breakfast in this manner, and consider it superior to e 
the kin 
u Seod nuts are t to be obtained in the gerez” of June to xc 
sietst to careful drying until Len 
however, requires to be thoroug 
oyage.” 
trade in cola nuts has been hitherto rto ‘chight i to rik 
West Coast of Afiica, where the nuts have been utilised n, 
