A Wonderful Plant.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XVIII, Issue 2980, 7 October 1893, Page 4

A Wonderful Plant.

: Some useful information with reference to the Kola plant is contained in a report on the botany of Sierra Leone presented tq the 1 Colonial Office and published as an official paper by Mr C : . F. Scott Elliot. The tree, Kola acuminata, Mr Elliot says, grows freely everywhere, and is found from the sea level to fully 3000 ft. at Sumhauaya," in the Talla highlands. It .appears ~tp Ltiriye wherpver plapted., Apd-is .well able trf held its in the original native bush. Mr Elliot could not find any special Conditions of soil As necessary, but it certainly grows on disintegrated gneiss red grit or laterite, dolerite, and occasionally on dry alluvium. He does not think he ever saw it on marshy ground or, soil liable to be Overflowed, and in planting the tree such places ought to be avoided. It ! begins to bear -in seven years, and is in full bearing after eight to ten years. Each tree is said to yield £3 to £4 per annum, and hence a plantation ought certainly to include a large number of these trees. The yield given by Mr Fawcett is 1251 b., or 4000 seeds per tree—that is, £8 to £lO per tree, or £BOO an acre. Semler says it produces GO kilog. in tbe 10th year. At present the nuts are chiefly used by the natives, but so much has been done of late years to bring their valuable properties before the public that it may be safely said that the demand in Europe is sure to increase. The following are some of its propertiesA nut, or eyen, half a nut, will enable a man to go without food and support great fatigue for 24 hours or more. It is an excellent nerve tonic, and is especially good for keeping the brain clear and active at night. It, however, prevents sleep almost too thoroughly, and should not be taken less than four hours before going to bed. A property not understood is that of rapidly clearing foul water and improving beer. It is alsb said to remove immediately and thoroughly the unsteadiness and stupidity due to, drunkenness.