17 



method in Africa of keeping the nuts as fresh as possible is the way to 

 get most out of them." 



Mr. F. B. Kilmer, the author of a most instructive article on Kola in 

 the Bulletin for last May, has been for some time studying the nut, its 

 chemical constituents, and the best way of sending it to the market, and 

 has at length come to the conclusion that it is better not to dry the nuts 

 atall, but send them, when quite ripe, as fresh as possible for export. He 

 has kindly furnished the directions given below. As the method is so 

 simple, the export ought in time to rival that of Bananas. 



" The proper time to gather the nuts is when the pods begin to break 

 open or when the fruit is full and beginning to ripen. The pods 

 may be shaken or broken from the tree. They may then be 

 prepared for the market in two ways : either by taking pod and 

 all just as it comes from the tree and carrying to the market without 

 drying, or the nuts may be removed from the pods and the yellow 

 fibre husks or covering rubbed off with the hands or washed off with 

 cold water. After washing, if they can be carried to the market at once, 

 let this be done, as the sooner they reach the shipping port the better. 

 If they cannot be carried at once to the market, a good way to keep 

 them is to dig a hole in the ground under shelter where they will not 

 become wet. Line the hole with any kind of large thick leaves dipped 

 in water. Lay the Kola Nuts on the leaves and then cover leaves and 

 all with dry earth. They will keep in this way for months In carry- 

 ing the Nuts into market for sale, line a basket or bag with any kind of 

 thick leaves that have been dipped in water, lay on the Kola Nuts. 

 The nuts may also be wetted with water, then cover all with plenty of 

 fresh leaves, lay a piece of bagging over all. In this way the heat and 

 sun cannot injure them. 



" Bissy nuts or Kola nuts can be sold in the Jamaica markets either 

 in the pod undried, or taken from the pod washed as above. In any case 

 do not put them out in the sun to dry, keep them where the air and 

 insects cannot get at them. If any of them begin to rot, mould or show 

 specks, throw them away. In handling them be very careful not to 

 cut, bruise or break the skin as this causes a change. 



" Undried Bissy or Kola nuts are much more profitable than dried 

 ones. For instance, a tree which would give 100 pounds of dried nuts 

 per year will yield 250 pounds of the undried nuts. In other words, in 

 drying one hundred pounds of nuts the planter loses from 60 to 75 

 pounds of moisture as every 100 pounds of dried nuts shrink to less than 

 40 pounds. Besides this, it takes from one to two weeks to spread 

 them out and turn them over and dry them, In selling the undried 

 nuts, if the planter gathers 100 pounds from the tree he takes 100 pounds 

 into the market and gets paid for it. In other words, he will get paid 

 for from 60 to 75 pounds more than he would if dried. He will have 

 two or three times the crop to sell. 



" Arrangements have been made with the leading merchants of Kings- 

 ton, Montego Bay, and other points in Jamaica to purchase all the un- 

 dried Kola that may be offered during the season. It may be shelled 

 and washed as above, or taken in the pod without shelling. Planters 

 will find a ready market and be given a fair price." 



Further copies of these directions may be obtained by addressing 

 Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P. O. 



