350 Agricultur. — Horticultur. — Forstbotanik. 



3. To aid experimental investigations in poisoning cases by 

 the detection and experimental determination of toxic agents, 

 particularly the obscure potent substances employed by the 

 natives. 



4. To carry out such chemicai and bacteriological tests in connexion 

 with water, food stuffs, and health and sanitary matters as may 

 be found desirable. 



5. To undertake the testing and assaying of agricultural, mineral 

 and other substances of practical interest in the industrial deve- 

 lopment of the Sudan. 



Work was commenced on February 1, 1902 and the present report 

 summarizes what has been accomplished in the first year. 



By the aid of plans and illustrations the general work room, 

 bacteriological and chemicai laboratories, and the attached museums are 

 shown. 



The greater portion of the report is devoted to an account of the 

 mosquito work conducted in Khartoum and the Angio Egyptian 

 Sudan generally. Notes are recorded of investigations on insects and 

 fungi injurious to Sorghum vulgare, Melon, and Acacia arabica. 



Attention has been given to the question of the presence of hydro- 

 cyanic acid in Sorghum, in continuation of the outcome of the investi- 

 gations of Dunstan and Henry at the Imperial Institute, who found 

 a glucoside, dhurrin in this plant. The investigation of cyanogenesis 

 in all the fodder plants used in the Sudan and some of the Legumi- 

 nosae ist suggested as a future research. W. G. Freeman. 



Cousins, H. H., Jamal ca Cassava. II. (Bulletin, Department 



of Agriculture Jamaica. Vol. II. 1904. p. 37—42.) 



In this paper the author summarizes the results of further investi- 

 gations into the composition of varieties of cassava cultivated in Ja- 

 maica. 



Two points of interest are the total quantity and location of hydro- 

 cyanic acid in the roots, and Carmody's rule as to the distribution o 

 the acid between the cortex and interior of the roots being distinctive of 

 sweet and bitter cassaves is well instanced by the foUowing result of 

 analysis of foor varieties grown near M a n d e v ill e: 



Proportion of total 

 Hydrocyanic acid 

 in cortex 

 „New Green"-Bitter 18.2 per cent. 



„Mass Jack"- „ 14.6 „ 



„Blue Top"- „ 27.8 



„Justic"-Sweet 50.0 „ 



In all analyses of 23 samples of cassava , grown in various 

 localities are given, showing for each, the percentage of hydrocyanic 

 acid, glucose, sucrose^ starch and „glucose value". 



W. G. Freeman. 



Cousins, H.H., The Manu facta re of Starch from the 

 Potato in Germany. (Bulletin, Department of Agriculture_, 

 Jamaica. Vol. II. 1904. p. 218—224.) 



The cassava (Mainhot utilissima) bears in the tropics the same 

 relationship to the potato of temperate climates that the sugar cane does 

 to the sugar beet. Individual potato tubers in Germany contain as 

 much as 29 per cent. Of starch and in good seasons samples frequently 

 show 25 to 27 per cent. of starch, whilst other tubers from the same crop 

 grown under identical conditions have only 16 per cent. As a general 

 rule large tubers show a higher starch content than small tubers. The 

 use of „seed" potatoes of high starch content has resulted in increasing 



