=KOLA NUTS.=—The importance of the kola nut in West Africa is very high. Sierra Leone produces generally a better quality, for local consumption and export, than other countries. The kola trees (_Kola acuminata_ and _K. vera_) do not, however, occur in a wild state in the country, and the whole produce is obtained from plantations, which are to be seen near almost every village in the moist region. A photograph is given showing a kola tree at Mano (Fig. 12). The destination of the exported kola is chiefly Bathurst (Gambia), Dakar (Senegal), Bissao (Portuguese Guinea), and to a small extent Dahomey. The exports of this commodity in recent years are given below as well as their average annual values per ton, which, as will be seen, exhibit great fluctuation. Tons Valued at Equal to £ per ton 1906 1,155 £104,084 £90 1907 1,374 £113,674 £83 1908 1,162 £108,895 £94 1909 1,320 £153,848 £116 1910 1,508 £191,878 £127 1911 1,597 £194,260 £121 1912 1,649 £276,473 £167 1913 1,865 £328,003 £176 1914 1,924 £279,185 £145 1915 2,041 £233,388 £119 1916 2,484 £302,720 £122 1917 1,702 £321,105 £188 1918 2,302 £397,726 £173 Kola nuts are second only to palm kernels in Sierra Leone in importance as an export, although they are practically entirely consigned to other coast ports; an insignificant amount of dried kolas only being destined for Europe. =RED PEPPER.=—_Capsicum annuum_ and _C. frutescens_ are both grown among the multitude of plants, the seeds of which are mixed and broadcasted in the farms; but whereas most of the other plants are annuals, these are left in the ground for two years or more, and yield almost continuous crops during that period. The country of origin of these plants is probably South America, but the date of their introduction is unknown. Beside the extensive local use of the pods, the export statistics of 1909 show that 41 tons were shipped. =GINGER.=—_Zingiber officinale_ is not found in a wild state in Africa, but has been widely introduced throughout the tropical portions, although in Sierra Leone, alone among the West African countries, has it reached the important position of an export. Owing to the defective methods of agriculture employed in the Colony, where for the most part ginger is cultivated, the roots or rhizomes do not attain a large size, and, in consequence, present great difficulties in decortication.