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as the gatherers are content to carry and sell it by handfuls, profits will 

 ■be small ; but when gathered and sold by the donkey-load, cart-load and 

 ship load, it will amount to something. To sell Kola in Jamaica or 

 anywhere, it must be handled in a large way and sold cheap, If this 

 is not done, buyers will obtain their supplies from other markets. 



In Africa and many of the West India Islands, Kola is a profitable 

 product. It can be sold at less than the pric3 of coffee and yield a better 

 revenue. At even one-half the price of coffee, Kola is several times the 

 more profitable crop. It has been estimated that a thriving Kola plan- 

 tation would yield £500 per acre. 



Kola Nuts have hitherto been sent to the market in a dried state ; but 

 so dried and handled as to be practically valueless, for most medicinal 

 purposes, Their value would be greatly enhanced with more care given, 

 (1) in the cultivation, (2) in the gathering and drying of the nuts. 



The best suggestions I can offer are to pick the nuts from the trees, 

 not wait for them to drop off. There is no harm, so far as I know, in 

 shaking or breaking them off. They should be gathered just before the 

 pod breaks open. The exact time is when the pod is beginning to split. 

 If they are to be dried, remove the seed from the pod and take the yellow 

 fibrous covering off the seeds and throw them in cold water and wash 

 thoroughly. Use plenty of water ; let a stream of water run over them. 

 If convenient, keep them in cold water and have it fresh until ready for 

 drying. To dry them, do not split open the " halves" or cotyledons, 

 but wipe them dry with a cloth, and further dry them in the sun or in 

 a warm, not hot oven, or artificial dryer. Turn them over frequently 

 while drying, but while they are fresh do not bruise them any more 

 than can be helped The quicker they are dried, the better; too 

 much heat will injure them ; the sun cannot, however. They should 

 not be left out over night or in stormy weather. If it rains, use 

 artificial heat or dry them or keep them in cold water until the weather 

 clears. 



One manufacturer of medicine in the United States uses undried 

 Kola. 



I shall be pleased to send instructions to any person who desires to 

 ship it in this way and tell them how to handle it. 



Finally, I would say that West India people are very sensible 

 in using Kola as they do in a very large way as a food and drink. The 

 chewers of Bissy and drinkers of Kola are far superior, 

 intellectually and physically, to those who indulge in tea, coffee or rum. 

 The most vigorous, healthy and graceful people, whether black or white 

 are those who " go in for Kola/' 



Another than myself has said of them. 



'* No cleaner, civil or gentler people can be found. Certainly no 

 happier, contented, care-free people live on the face of the earth. Their 

 physique, health, power to resist disease, longevity, fertilitv, virility 

 retained to advanced age ; their civil, moral and physical development 

 under existing conditions are very notable. 



" I will not presume to claim that the use of Bissy brings about all 

 these fine physical conditions ; frugal living, race crossing, climate, 

 healthy, out-door labour ; all conditions and surroundings contribute to 

 its fulfilment. But the use of Bissy has a great share in keeping them 

 in harmony with tropical nature/' 



