16 



trash and more of it must be- used, and a weight not exceeding 281bs. 

 placed on the top which helps the fermentation. 



When the Cocoa is being dried, it is not advisable to expose it after 

 the first two days to the extreme heat of the mid-day sun, it is better 

 to take it in about 9 o'clock, and then put it out again between three 

 and four o'clock. Those who use evaporators are warned against an ex- 

 cessively high temperature. 



Great care must be taken when removing the pods from the trees 

 that they be cut off with a good sharp knife, not pulled off. If pulled 

 off, the little knob at the base of the stem of the pod is injured, and 

 the tree will not bear from the same spot the following year. If the pods 

 are cut off carefully, the tree goes on bearing from the same spot year 

 after year. 



NOTES ON KOLA OR BISSY. 



Cultivation. 



Situation. — Wherever Bananas bear fruit, Kola may be planted. 



Sowing Seed — Prepare by good digging a nursery bed under the 

 shade of trees, and near water. The bed should not be more than 3 

 feet broad, so that it can easily be weeded while the seedling are grow- 

 ing. When the bed is prepared 3 feet broad, and as long as required, 

 make a straight narrow trench 2 icnhes deep down along the centre, 

 and others at 6 inches from each side. There will thus be 3 trenches 

 in your seed-bed one foot apart. Put the seeds in at 9 inches apart 

 in the trenches. Draw a little soil over the seeds to cover them. 

 Water very gently and see that the soil is kept constantly moist, but not 

 too wet. Keep the bed quite free from weed. Take only the largest 

 and ripest seeds for planting and plant whilst they are quite fresh. 



Planting — The seedlings or suckers may be permanently planted 

 out when they are 2 or 3 feet high ; but better results will be obtained 

 by transplanting when a foot high into another nursery bed with not 

 so much shade, and allowed to grow another 1 or 2 feet. 



If a regular plantation is to be made, they can be put out at inter- 

 vals from each o'her of not less than 25 feet. But if they are planted 

 anywhere, they should not be put in nearer than 13 or 14 feet to any 

 other tree. 



Holes should be dug for them some time before planting, at least a 

 foot wide, and 18 inches deep. 



Spread out the roots very carefully when planting, and fill in the 

 soil until level with the top. Then tread it down firmly, fill in more 

 soil, and water. 



Drive in a stoat stake beside each plant so that in weeding they may 

 not be missed and cut down. 



Shade is necessary for the young plants for a little time, and 

 Banana or Plantain suckers should be planted out a few months before- 

 hand, if there is no shade already. 



How to Prepare Bissy or Kola Nuts for the Market without 



Drying. 



In the Report of the Department for the j^ear ended 31st March, 

 1894, it was stated in a note on Kola that "it is possible that the native 



