Vol. UL Xo. 61. 



THE AGEICULTUllAL NEWS. 



263 



SCIENCE NOTES. 



Bread-nut. 



Some confusion i.s apt to arise on account of this name 

 being ai)plieJ to two plants in the West Indies. It is, 

 however, generally understood to refer to Broiimuiii. 

 A/icasfnim, althougli in Barbados and elsewhere the seeded 

 variety of the bread-fruit receives the name ' bread-nut.' 



The former of these {Brosimum Alicastrum), a native of 

 Jamaica and Central America, is a large tree sometimes 

 reaching a height of 80 feet. It bears a large number of 

 fruits (nuts), known botanicaliy as aehenes, which are 

 embedded in a flesliy fruit stalk or receptable. These are 

 cooked and eaten. 



Brosimum Alicastrum is also an excellent timber tree, 

 the rich-lsrown heart wood, which takes a good polish, 

 being nnich used for flooring. 



The leaves and nuts are eaten by horses and cattle. In 

 an article on 'Jamaican Fodders' in the Bulletin of the 

 Department of Agriculture, Jamaica, (Vol. I, p. 246), 

 Jlr. H. H. Cousins states : ' This is a valuable fodder-product. 

 It is, for a tropical fodder, unusually rich in nitrogenous 

 matter [12-04 per cent, in .sun-dried sample] and deservedly 

 holds a high place as a food for stock.' 



The other bread-nut tree, which is, as already stated, 

 considered to be a variety of the common bread-fruit, is 

 recorded by Duss in his Flore phanerogamique des Antilles 

 frangaises as Artocarpus incisa, var. seiainifera. The fruits 

 are about the same size as those of the ordinary bread-fruit, 

 and are covered with spines in much the same way as is the 

 sour sop {Anona muricata). They contain a large number of 

 seeds embedded in the pulp, like the seeds of the jack-fruit 

 (Artocarpus integrifolia). A single fruit usually contains 

 upwards of forty of these seeds, which have somewhat the 

 appearance of chestnuts, though not quite as large. They 

 are, in fact, roasted and eaten like the chestnut, which they 

 also resemble in flavour. 



In Porto Eico, according to Cook and Collins {Economic 

 Plants of Porto Rico), this variety is more common than the 

 seedless form of bread-fruit. The tree is commonly called 

 'castana,' the Spanish name for the chestnut. The seeds 'are 

 frequently sold in the market in a germinating condition and 

 are boiled for a few minutes before eating.' 



This tree is by no means conunon in the West Indies, 

 but a number of seeds have been obtained from a tree growing 

 at Dodds Reformatory, Barbados. These are being distributed 

 to the Botanic Stations throughout the West Indies. It is 

 understood that the seeded variety of the bread-fruit is usually 

 propagated from seeds and not from cuttings of the root as 

 is the case with the ordinary variety. 



EDUCATIONAL 



Agricultural Schools. 



The following are the general reports of the 

 examiner (Mr. L. Lewton-Brain, B.A., F.L.S.) on the 

 recent half-yearly examinations of the Dominica and 

 St. Vincent Agricultural Schools : — 



DOMINICA. 



During the half-year eight new boys have been admitted. 

 These have been at the school for periods varying from two 

 to five and a half months. These new boys hive taken the 

 junior papers. As might be expected, their work is weak 



especially in Agriculture and Chemistry ; their Botany is 

 much better. It is inqiossible to arrange these bovs in order 

 of merit, Init Cuffy and Prosper, the boys who "have been 

 longest at the school, have done the best jiapers. Pioudette 

 deserves commendation for his position next to these, as he is 

 one of the latest admissions. 



The senior boys have done good, if not brilliant, papers 

 all through. Pilchards and Bruney are the weakest : there is 

 but little to choose between the others; Nicholas is the best. 

 The Cliemistry papers were the weakest. Some of the 

 lecture-room experiments descrilied appear not to have been 

 understood by the boys; care must be taken, in performing 

 experiments, that the pupils see and understand every detail, 

 and also grasp thoroughly what each experiment proves, and 

 how it does it. The lecture-room teaching should be as 

 practical as that in the field. 



There are only three boys in the junior class. Their 

 papers are weak compared with those of the seniors, and 

 there is not much to choose between them; Gachette is 

 rather better than the others. 



ST. VINCENT. 



Among the seniors the general standard of results is 

 distinctly good, especially in the Agriculture, Botany and 

 Chemistry papers ; the Arithmetic and Geography papers are 

 not quite so good. The best individual papers are Trotman's 

 and Derrick's in Botany, and Mcilaster's in Arithmetic, all of 

 winch are excellent. Trotman has considerably improved his 

 position in this class and his papers are good throughout. 

 Derrick has again done very well, while McMaster and Carr 

 have both improved their positions. Haynes has fallen 

 considerably in the list, though his science papers are very 

 fail-. D. Browne has again done comparatively poorly. All 

 the seniors have obtained well over -50 per cent, of the possi- 

 ble marks. 



The junior boys have done much better than at the last 

 examination. Yorke and Harry are the best. As in the 

 senior class, the Agriculture, Chemistry and Botany are the 

 best papers. Henderson and Falby, who were new boys at 

 the last e.xaraination have done better this time, although 

 their work is, naturally, still much poorer than that of the 

 other juniors. There is little change in the relative i>ositions 

 of the boys from December. 



SWEET POTATO MEAL. 



The following analysis of sweet pijtato meal from 

 Grenada has been forwarded by Professor J. P. 

 d'Albuquerque, M.A., F.I.C., F.C.S., who remarks that 

 the sample was well prejjared : — 



Moisture ... ... ... ... 5-75 



Oil 0-62 



Albuminoids* ... ... ... .3-29 



Starch, mucilage, etc. **... ... 8.5-79 



Fibre 2-87 



Asht 1-68 



