Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20

healthy appetite Sole mfrs. Dr.: J. g. B.
Written for The Evening Star.
STRANGE TROPICAL FRUITS.
Progress Made tn Their Cultivation In
This Country.
Samples of corn Of q giant species have
been obtained from Peru by the Depart
ment of Agriculture. The grains are four
times the size of those of ordinary maize,
and Secretary Morton believes that the
plant mey be turned to most valuable ac-
count In this country. 1t Is very prolific
and bears ears of huge dimensions. The
species Is quite distinct from any known in
North America, and the name yea amy
iacea " has been given to 1t. All Of our
corn comes under the head of yea mails"
Prof. E. L. Sturtevant Is now making q
study of this remarkable Peruvian cereal.
with view to finding out how 1t may be
cultivated most advantageously.
The grains are extraordinarily starchy,
even for corn; hence the name "amylacea"
Already ten distinct varieties Of the spe-
ctes have been ascertained. One Of them
would probably be excellent for canning.
inasmuch as 1t contains an unusual per-
centage Of sugar. 1t has been named Yea
amylacea saccharata." Undoubtedly the
species Is derived from the same source as
the maize of the United States.
Hope Of the discovery of a Few and val
liable cereal has been raised by the fruit
ing this season of the common cane Of the
southern canebrakes. This Is an extraor-
binary event. Only very rarely does the
cane produce seed, its ordinary method of
propagation being like that OF the sugar
cane-by underground root stalks. This
year farmers in the south have gathered
thousands of bushels of the seeds for fod-
der. 1t Is likely that they would serve ex-
cellently for human food. II the plant could
be induced to bear annually. Whether or
not 1t could be persuaded by cultivation to
alter its habit in this regard Is an open
question. The farmers claim that the seeds
will not terminate, but experiments made
within the last few weeks by the Depart
ment of Agriculture prove that they do
sprout, though they are very slow about it.
The root sent out by the seed Is enormous
ly long compared with the little green
shoot
A man in Illinois has applied to the De-
partment Of Agriculture for seeds Of bam-
boos. He wants to grow them on islands in
the Mississippi river, believing that the
culture would be profitable for the wood
and other uses. Bambcos. however, are
usually propagated from cuttings of the
roots; they rarely fruit. The cane above
referred to is a species. of bamboo. There
are at least ten Asiatic species of bamboo
which might be expected to thrive in the
milder ATTITUDES of this country. Two of
these have been found hardy in New Eng
land. number of successful bamboo
plantations have already been established
in southern California. Banjo os are util-
lied for making water pipes, ship rigging,
carts. boxes, mats. cordage and paper.
Furniture manufactured from the stems is
much in fashion at present An Indian
species sometimes attains q height OF forty
feet in as many days.
Quite number of tropical nuts have re-
Gently been Introduce ed into cultivation in
this country. Already on the east coast
of Florida are growing 100000 cocoanut
trees. $4,000 being In one plantation. It
is believed that the first trees Of this kind
In that state sprouted from nuts brought
from Central America and the West Indies
by the gulf stream. At Key West and
about some of the old forts cocoanuts were
planted at an early day. as certain ancient
trees now standing bear witness.
An attempt Is being made to raise the
kola nut in Florida. This is the nut so
highly valued in Africa, where 1t Is used
for chewing and In a decoction. 1t is rich
in the active principle Of coffee, contain
ing more caffeine than do coffee berries.
1t also contains a large proportion of the
active principle Of cocoa, and has three
times as much starch as there is in coffee.
A paste made from 1t Is considered by
physicians to be most useful for inva1ids
and for persons Of weak digestion. The
raw nut Is a powerful antidote for alcohol.
The natives in parts Of Africa store the
nuts like corn.
With the aid of the kola nut native Afri-
cans make difficult marches and do labor
ious work without fatigue. 1t serves in
Tune OF famine 10 sustain their strength.
without food. The English consul at Ba-
hia has reported that the kola enables four
negroes to carry easily the burden ordinar-
lily borne by eight negroes. 1t Is believed
that before long the nut will be served
out to troops In time of war. Cakes pre-
pared from 1t, with sugar and flour, have
already been tried on soldiers In Germany.
These cakes are known commercially as
"accele-ating rations" Each fertile flower
of the koia tree may yield fifty-four seeds,
measuring quart and Weighing one and a
Quarter pounds The tree resembles the
chestnut, and bears $50 pounds Of nuts
annually.
Many so-called kola wines, extracts,
strups and tinctures are already on the
market but they have no value. Their
properties are simply those Of a very d.
lutte solution of caffeine. A plain cup of
coffee Is richer in caffeine than these prep
arations. If one wishes to make use Of the
kola. he ought to consume it exactly as
do the African negroes-that Is to say, by
slowly chewing pieces Of the fresh nuts
Dried nuts will not do; they are valued
very little by the negroes, and are an in
ferior variety of the kola. Unfortunately
they are the only ones used by chemists.
Nothing Is easier. when the medical fra
ternity chooses to demand 1t, than to OBJ
tain the fresh nuts from Africa. at a cost
not exceeding 81 a pound and to preserve
them In this condition for a long time.
Fresh nuts. by reason Of their character
1stic appearance. cannot be adulterated;
but 1t is impossible to distinguish true
kolas from false ones when they have
been dried.