Chemisch-pharmaceut. Botanik. — Horticultur u. Agricultur. 287 



The various Citrus plants abound in the West Indies, but have 

 not been utilized for the preparation of oil except in Dominica. 

 Pimenta acris, yielding bay oil is common in Trinidad, where also 

 occurs a variety with lemon scented leaves yielding an oil containing 

 citral. 



The camphor tree is stated to grow in the West Indies and to 

 yield considerable quantities of oil, more being obtained from the wood 

 than from the joung leaves and branches. 



The importance of maintaining unmixed cultivations is pointed out ; 

 the oil from different varieties when mingled being often of unpleasant 

 odour, and grafting recommended in preference to the use of seedlings. 

 Methods of extraction are described, and the export from Dominica 

 from 1891 to 1900 given. W. G. Freeman. 



Anonymus. Bird Seed. (Bulletin of the Department of Agri- 



culture, Jamaica. Vol. I. 1903. p. 111 — 112.) 



Notes on Hemp (Cannabis sativa), sun flowers (Helianthus annuus), 

 Canary grass (Phalaris caiiariensis) with reference to experiments in 

 hand for their cultivation in Jamaica. W^ G. Freeman. 



Cousins, H. H., Jamaica Cassava. (Bulletin of the Department 

 of Agriculture, Jamaica. Vol. I. 1903. p. 130—134.) 



Cassava (Manihot) is of interest as a commercial source of starch 

 and glucose, and the author records analyses made to ascertain the 

 comparative yield of starch from selected Jamale an varieties. 



In one series of six varieties, the starch, in fresh, undried roots, 

 ranged from 30,7 to 36,3 per cent, whilst in a second series of seven 

 varieties the starch varied from 32,4 to 39,19 per cent. Their „glucose 

 value" is also given. The method of obtaining a sample for analysis is 

 described, and it is pointed out that the roots must not be kept for any 

 time as decomposition rapidly sets in. For this reason a cassava factory 

 must be in close touch with the centre of production. 



The percentage of hydrocyanic acid in rind and interior of the roots 

 was also estimated, by a method described. The results „so far appear 

 to confirm Prof. Carmody's Statement that an analytical difference 

 can be drawn between sweet and bitter cassava based on the fact that 

 in the bitter the poison is uniformly distributed in the whole tuber while 

 in sweet cassava most of the poison is contained in the peel". 



W. G. Freeman. 



Fawcett, W., The Banana Industry in Jamaica. (West 

 Indian Bulletin. Vol. III. 1902. p. 153—171.) 



A comprehensive summary is given of the banana industry in 

 Jamaica, prefaced by a populär account of the morphology and physio- 

 logy of the plant, especially in relation to points which affect agricultural 

 practice. 



Several varieties of banana occur in Jamaica, but only one is 

 cultivated on a large scale for export, the Jamaica, Martinique or 

 Pouyat banana, originally introduced into Jamaica by M. P o u y a t 

 from Martinique about 1830. 



Mechanical and chemical analyses of typical banana soils are quoted 

 from Mr. H. H. Cousins, the Government Chemist of Jamaica. 



The processes of cultivating, pruning and harvesting the crop are 

 described in detail, with abstracts of accounts obtained in actual practice 

 on estates. 



The exports of bananas from Jamaica since 1897 are summarized, 

 with notes of the prices obtained in England and America at various 

 seasons of the year. W. G. Freeman. 



