Vol. Xrir. Xo. 3:.>4. 



THE AGKICl'LTUEAL NEWS. 



-SO." 



co.st of having any one point detorinined varies between 

 Is. to 2s., according to the size of the seed, and 

 a complete test varies between (i.s. and I2s., which is 

 con.sidered exceedingly moderate, bearing in mind the 

 importance of the resulting infurmation. 



We may nnw i iii|uirc into what arc thi- pussibii- 

 a])})licatiiins of this system under tropical conditinns. 

 It appears that in India, whei-e large areas of tea and 

 ciitton are grown, (jloveriniient rontrol is e.xerci.sed. as 

 is also the case in Egyjjt anfi the \\Vst Indies in regard 

 to cotton. But control scarcely expresses the assist- 

 ance rendere<l by these ( iovernments, since ordinary 

 commercial tiansactions are not involved. The control 

 relates principally to the supjjly of reliable seed rather 

 than to the problem of safeguarding the public in 

 regard to outside supply, which at present is generally 

 unnecessary. Yet e\en in the places mentioned, there 

 is a considerable trade done in tea. cotton, rubber and 

 coco-nut .seed, anrl where this trade is at all extensive 

 and competitive, it is, or will be nece.s.sarv to adept defi- 

 nite methods of control such as are em]il(iyed in Kurepe. 

 Facilities in most tro{)ical countries aie alreadv a\ail- 

 able at the Botanic Stations for enabling this control 

 t(j be exercised: and in places where seed goes from 

 one estate to another, it is highly desirable that 

 a sample should pass through the hands of the local 

 botanical authorities, not onh that a business ouaranlee 

 may be given, but also that a check or control may be 

 exercised which will ensure the planting of good material, 

 and hence nwintain a high standard of quality ami.>ngst 

 the colony's crops. Ideas as to methods and systems 

 f<jr the stations to adopt will be found in the publica- 

 tion we have reviewed in the course of this article. 



FRUIT PRODUCTS. 



Sevfnil intere.sting matters are noted in the Demei-ara 

 Daily Chronicle (Septeinl>er 11, 1914) in regard to agricul- 

 ture ill British Ciuiaiia. A new feature is the advofacy that 

 1 )lial, the Intlian provision plant, should be intercrojiped 

 with rice, especially in view of the present conditions of food 

 supply. .Viiother suggestion is that Denierara should grow 

 arrowroot, not with a view to competing with St. Vincent or 

 Kcrnuida hut to supplj' local requirements. 



According to a publication lately received from Jlanila, 

 University of the Philippines is quickly assum- 

 ...j, increased importance as a centre of education and 

 research. Its flourishing college of agriculture had in its 

 second year ninety-five students, in its third ITi"), in its 

 fourth 2.5.3. There are now I'SU students. 



th 



in"- 



Pine-apple Vinegar. In the canning of |)ine- 

 applcs tliiTL- lesuhs ;ni enorni<iUs waste of juice, which 

 amounts to hundreds of thousands of gallons per annum. 

 Some of the ,juice is utilized for making .syrup, and, to 

 to a limited extent, for preparing bottled pine-apple juice. 



.\ttenq3ts to convert the juice into vinegai- with the 

 rapid \inegar process were made, but the residts were not 

 entirely satisfactory. ' On an average, the vinegar obtained 

 contained an acetic acid content of about 3\S per cent., which 

 is considerably below the legal standard. Occasionally it was 

 ptjssilile to obtain vinegar of approximately -I'o per cent.' 

 Ditticulty was experienced in obtaining a good degree of alco- 

 holic fermentation of the juice, as various other types of 

 fermentation took place sinuiltaneously with it. 



The piice obtained for the finished product did not 

 Warrant further investigation of this problem, but it may be 

 contiiuietl at some futiuv date. (Ej-perinient Station Eerorcl, 

 VoL .\.\.\. Xo. 9.) 



Utilization of Waste Oranges. In addition 



to the material previously noted (E.ipei imcnt Station Becord, 

 A'oi. X.VX, p. ."ilfJ), this bulletin describes the preparation of 

 orange vinegar and orange wine from waste oranges, and 

 reports analyses thereof. 



In preparing orange vinegar it is recommcndeil that the 

 jnifc before fermentation be treated with potassium metabi.sul- 

 pliiilc. After .standing for twenty-four hours tlie clear juice is 

 drawn off aial fermented with pure cultures of yeast. The 

 finished juice is stored in well-filled, closed barrels oi- tanks 

 until required for converting into vinegar. 



Strong vinegar, equal in amount to about one-fourth tlie 

 volume of the fermented juice, should be added to the orange 

 wine to prevent the growth of wine flowers and promote the 

 development of the vinegar fermentation. The vinegar fer- 

 mentation nuist take place in coutainers that allow a good 

 surface of the vinegar to be exposed to the air. The 

 vinegar may be cleared by filtering. 



Orange wine may l)e made by defecating the fresh juice 

 after the addition of moderate anaamts of potassium meta- 

 bisulphide to pre\ent fermentation for a short time, fermen- 

 ting the dear juice with pure .yeast, and filteiing the 

 finished wine to clear. This cleared wine may be turned into 

 sparkling orange wine by the addition of a small amount of 

 sugar, and by subsequent fermentation in bottles. 



The Dominica Chronicle for August 12, 1914, calls ■ 

 attention to the Brooks' grinding law of the State of 

 Xew York, which specifies the size of a barrel for fruit 

 export. A barrel, according to the Xew York law, shall 

 represent a quantity equal to 4'08 cubic feet (7,0.'5fi cubic 

 inches). The receptacle nuist also conform t<j fixed dimen- 

 sions. It is pointed out that this law, after July 15, 1914, 

 will lie strictly enforced by the Connuissioners of Weights and 

 Measures, and it is very ueces.sary that its provisions should 

 be complied with to avoid seizure of shipments. 



In connexion with vanilla cultivation, information is 

 required most in the West Indies in regard to methods of 

 curiu"'. Useful facts concerning this branch of the subject 

 will be found in the WeH India Committte Circular for .luly 

 28, 1914. Amongst other matters the Mexican or sun 

 process and the Bourlirm or hot water process ai-e fully 

 described. 



