isro. 2 (1921) REMARKS ON CANNING 137 



solder. Paper labels should be of good glazed paper, and there 

 are lithographic printers in Madras, Bombay, etc., who do very fair 

 and artistic work. 



224. Varnish and lacquer. — To prevent corrosion of the metal by 

 fish packed with vinegar or by prawns, it is necessary to double 

 lacquer the inside. To prevent rust and discoloration in this humid 

 climate or to improve the external appearance it may be advisable 

 to use a good lacquer, e.g., gold lacquer or a coloured spirit 

 varnish, for the outside. These are dear and often of poor quality 

 when bought in the local bazaar. In the absence of ability to 

 make these lacquers and varnishes they should be procured from 

 respectable firms. 



225. It is advisable to stock very complete sets of samples of 

 various classes of canned goods made elsewhere especially in 

 foreign countries; the variety of such goods is surprising and is 

 only equalled by — in very many cases — -the excellence of their 

 contents, of their packing, of their form, and of their decoration. 

 Without such samples constantly in view, even the most imagina- 

 tive canner loses many inspirations or ideas. The samples should 

 be numerous enough to allow of the occasional opening of cans in 

 view to examine packing methods, flavours, condition, etc 



To these should be added samples of various materials, especi- 

 ally of oils, lacquers, labels, etc., for comparative purposes. 



COST. 



226. Land. — This is not often very expensive, but good blocks are 

 hard to get ; moreover it is notorious that private purchasers of 

 land in this country are often, by reason of Hindu and Muhammadan 

 law, seriously troubled and injured by claims subsequent to 

 purchase, made either honestly or vexatiously by co-sharers, in so- 

 much that purchasers may find themselves involved literally in 

 20 years' litigation and expense with perhaps adverse decisions at 

 the end. A clear, immediate, and absolute title is hard to get 

 except from or through Government on its executive side. 



227. Buildings. — These are not expensive ; all may be single 

 floor sheds, built on basements one or two feet above ground level ; 

 on the West Coast laterite is cheap and suitable for the masonry, 

 and nothing is better than ' Mangalore ' tiles (made at all import- 

 ant points on the coast) for the roof, and flat tiles on concrete for 

 the floors ; timber is also fairly cheap, being floated down from the 



