Vol. VII. Xo. 150. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



27 



ANALYSES OF CONDENSED MILK. 



It may be of some interest to consumers and 

 others to reproduce the results of anal^'sis of several 

 samples of the various classes of condensed milks on 

 the market. It is believed that these figures, which 

 were published in the Clwmk-al Xews on November 

 8 last, by Mr. F. J. Lloyd, F.I.C, a well-known public 

 analyst in England, are representative of the composi- 

 tion of the different classes, of milk. 



Analyses of five samples of machiuc-skininied condensed 

 milk show that fat may vary from 0-30 to 1-l'6 percent.; 

 casein, 9-05 to 11-10 percent.; sugar, G2-77 to G.O'O-t per cent,; 

 ash, 2-26 to 2-48 per cent ;and water, 20-26 to 2466 per cent. 

 Boric acid was found in each .sample, lieing present to the 

 extent of from 0-2.5 to 0-43 per cent. Xo other preservative, 

 such as formalin or salicylic acid, was found present. 



In three samples of full cream (sweetened) condensed 

 milk examined, the fat ranged from 820 to 11-13 per cent.; 

 casein, S'SB to 10-9.5 per cent.; sugar, 58-21 to 65-46 per 

 cent.; ash, 2-0 to 2-84 per cent; water, 13-04 to 18-70 per 

 cent. Koric acid was present in small (piantity in two of flie 

 samples. 



A full-cream unsweetened condensed milk was found to 

 contain fat, 10-13 per cent.; ca.sein, 1086 per cent.; sugar, 

 9'55 per cent.; ash, 174 per cent.; water, 6772 per cent. 



Here it may be mentioned that the average 

 composition of cows' milk may be taken as: Fat, 3 7.5 

 per cent: casein, 3-10 jier cent.; albumen, 0-54 per 

 cent.: milk sugar, 4-.S0 per cent.: ash, 07 per cent.: or, 

 total solids, 12 89 per cent: water, .S7'71 per cent. 



CABBAGE GROWING FOR STOCK IN 

 CUBA. 



A l.ite number of the Boletla <le la Secretarla de 

 Agri.cult U.I'd contains an article dealing with the grow- 

 ing of cabbages as a f(wd for live stock in the island of 

 Cuba, where this cultivation has been introduced from 

 the United States. 



The cabbage which has been acclimatized in Cuba is 

 a well-known variety of English origin, known as the Dwarf 

 Essex cabbage. It yields a large ipiantity of nutritious and 

 succulent food, which is much appreciated by all kinds of live 

 stock. 



This cabbage is stated to flourish on all kinds of soil in 

 Cuba, except on very moist clay soil. The seed is sown 

 during the later months of the year, or in .January, February 

 or ilarch of the following year, in farrows from 36 to 40 

 inches apart, this distance leaving ample space for the passage 

 of tillage and weeding instruments between the rows of 

 cabbages. 



When the cabbage seed is drilled in rows, about 2 J lb. 

 are used per acre ; when sown broadcast; twice this quantity 

 is required. 



Growers in Cufia who raise this crop as a stock food 

 cut, each morning, just the quantity required for the day's 

 food of the live stock. If cut and not consumed till the 

 following day, the cabbages become dry and unpalatable. 



The i)ractice followed is to cut the cabbages about 4 

 inches above the ground ; the stunqis )iud again and a .second 

 crop is obtained. 



The enormous amount of stock food yielded by this crop 

 in Cuba will be understood when it is >tated that a weight of 

 nearly 150 tons per acre per annum wa.s obtained on laud 



which hail only received a small amount of farmyard manure 

 together with a light dressing of potassium chloride. 



\\[vm fed to sheep and pigs, the cabbages can be simply 

 placed in the open field, the animals being allowed to eat 

 them at will. It is mentioned, however, that in feeding to 

 cattle the best results are obtained by giving the cabbages 

 in conjunction with other green food, or with corn. In 

 connexion with milking cows, it is well known that if fed in 

 any quantity, cabbages inqiart an luqileasant flavour to the 

 milk of these animals. 



The writer of the article states his conviction that, 

 with impioved knowledge on the part of stock owners of 

 the value of the cro[) in raising and fattening cattle and other 

 kinds of live stock, cabbage culture will be largely extended 

 in most countries where stock keeping is carried on, and the 

 results which are reported from Cuba should certainly 

 encourage stock owners to at least devote a small area to an 

 experimental cultivation of the crop. 



AGRICULTURE IN THE VIRGIN 



ISLANDS. 



At a meeting held at the Court House, Road 

 Town, Tortola, on December 4 last, the Hon. Francis 

 Watts, C.M.G., D.Sc, Superintendent of Agriculture 

 for the Leeward Islands, delivered an address dealing 

 with the agricultural resources of the Virgin Islands. 

 His Honour the Commissioner, Dr. Earl, presided over 

 the gathering, which included the Revd. H. Easter, the 

 Revd. C. R. Trace, and Mr. W. C. Fishlock the Agri- 

 cultural Instructor. Mr. Fishlock has forwarded the 

 accompanying account of the proceedings: — 



Dr. Watts sketched the progress of the cotton industry 

 in the Presidency from the beginning to its pre.sent state of 

 development. He described the chief difficulties met with by 

 planters who set out to grow cotton crops of high quality, 

 and pointed out the great need of care and watchfulness on 

 the part of the growers. 



The speaker assured those present that the Department 

 of Agriculture was anxious to do everything jjossible to 

 encourage and assist the development of the cotton industry, 

 and in this connexion he referred to the recent improvements 

 at the cotton factory under the contr-ol of the Department. 

 At this factory enlargement had lately been made and a new 

 oil engine is being procured, the total exj)enditure being 

 about £250. 



Last year, cotton to the value of about £350 was 

 jjurchased liy the factory from small growers, but it was 

 stated by Dr. Watts that this year the Department expected 

 to buy abottt twice that amount. 



Interesting reference was made to the (juestion (discussed 

 in a recent number of the Ayriculturat Xeii.'x, Vol. VI, p.395) 

 of the possible establishment of a small cacao industry in the 

 Virgin Islands. It was suggested that much useful information 

 might be obtained if cacao plants were experimentally grown 

 in the more favourable localities of the islands, in the hope 

 that the same success might attend these trials as was 

 obtained with the cacao plots at the Experiment Station. 



Dr. Watts also spoke encouragingly of the efforts which 

 are being made to establish a lime industry in the Virgin 

 Islands. U]) to the present, something has been done by 

 buying uji fruit from small growers, and manufacturing 

 concentrated lime juice. This is- a new source of profit to 

 small growers, for in the past limes have to a large extent 

 simply rotted untler the trees. 



In conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded 

 Dr. Watts for his helpful and valuable address. 



