Vol. IX. No. 202. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



25 



Variability in Manihot Dichotoma. 



E.\perinients which are being conducted at the 

 Peraden^ia E.xperinient Station, Ceylon, with this 

 plant show that one of its characteristics is the great 

 variability in vegetative characters. According to the 

 Tropical Ajjriculturist of November 190!J, observations 

 on one-year old trees show that some of the leaves may 

 almost be mistaken, on the one hand, for those of 

 Manihot Glaziorii, whUe on the other hand, the leaf 

 lobes of some are much longer and narrower, and 

 possess a deeply wavy outline. Again, the seed 

 capsules on some trees are nearly smooth (much like 

 those of j\[. Glaziorii,) but larger, while on others, the 

 capsules possess high crinkled ridges or wings. There 

 is, however, no possible chance of confusing one 

 with the other, because those trees which resemble the 

 Ceara rubber in the shape of the leaves usually differ 

 greatly in regard to the capsules, and vice versa. 



One great interest of this variability is that it 

 indicates the likelihood of a similar diversity in the 

 yields of late.x from the trees of the different kinds, 

 and definite e-xperiments will probably be undertaken 

 for the purpose of gaining information in connexion 

 with this. 



New Test for Sucrose and Other Sugars in 

 Condensation Water, etc. 



The following abstract, taken from the Interna- 

 tional Sugar Journal of November 1909 (Vol. .\I, 

 No. 131), gives information concerning a new test for 

 Sucrose and other sugars in condensation water, etc. 



The methpd employed is as follows: 1 c.c. of 

 a 5 per cent, solution of ammonium molybdate, and 

 2 c.c. of the liquid under examination are introduced 

 into a test-tube; 10-12 c.c. of sulphuric acid are then 

 carefully poured down the side of the inclined tube 

 into the mixture. 



In the presence of more than 0000.5 grams of 

 sugar, a blue ring will appear in less than 20 minutes 

 at the point where the aqueous mixture and the 

 sulphuric acid meet. In solutions containing less than 

 this amount, or, if no coloration is indicated, the upper 

 layer of liquid should be heated to boiling point, when 

 the blue ring will develop in less than 30 minutes, if 

 only 0'00002 grams of sugar be present. 



The reaction is thus seen to be very delicate. It 

 may be employed for the purpose of differentiation 

 between sugars. 



Rubber on the Gold Coast. 



According to the report of the Agricultural Depart- 

 ment of the Gold Coast for 1908, the rubber at present 

 •exported from that colony is the product of several 

 kinds of latex, the most important of which is that of 

 Fantumia elastica. The jungle vine (Landolphia 

 oivariens is) a.ho furnishes a good deal of ball rubber. 

 The quality of most of the Gold Coast rubber is poor, 

 owing to the ignorance on the part of the natives of 

 improved methods of preparation, and their habit of 



collecting and mixing several different kinds of latex, 

 whether they produce good rubber or not. Attempts are 

 being made by the Department of Agriculture to effect 

 improvement in this respect, for it has now been clearly 

 demonstrated that rubber, which is second only to the 

 finest Para in quality, can be made from the latex of 

 Fantumia claxtica. The jungle vine appears to be of 

 slow growth, and not suitable for cultivation. Another 

 indigent rubber tree which is worthy of mention is 

 Ficus Vogelii, which produces ' Memleku' rubber. The 

 latter, as at present obtained, is of a very poor quality, 

 but there are indications that it can be improved, and 

 this appears to be worth doing, as the trees yield 

 a large quantity of late.x. The product is somewhat 

 like balata, and ma}' probably be used for the same 

 purjjoses. 



Cotton Seed Oil and Woollen Manufactures. 



In the Huddersfield District of the West Riding 

 of Yorkshire, the chief industry is the manufacture of 

 woollens and worsteds. For this, a large quantity of 

 soap is used for the purposes of scouring, in order to 

 remove perspiration, wool fat and mineral substances 

 from raw wool, as well as oil from manufactured yarns 

 and pieces. For making the soap, a large amount of 

 cotton seed oil is employed, much of which comes from 

 the United States; in addition, oil from seed crushed 

 at Hull is used. Other uses for cotton seed oil in the 

 same district are those of cooking, and of adulterating 

 food substances and machine oils. 



In connexion with the use of cotton seed oil for 

 the woollen industry, the Monthly Consular and 

 Trade Reports states that one firm in Huddersfield 

 finds it profitable to run steam-driven wagons provided 

 with large tanks to Hidl for the purpose of trans- 

 porting oil to its soap works, where 140 tons of soft 

 soap are manufactured weekly. 



The Biological and Agricultural Institute ot 



German East Africa. 



The Biological and Agricultural Institute of 

 German East Africa is situated on the top of a hill 

 about 3,000 feet above sea-level, at Amani in East 

 Usambara, and is under the charge of a director, 

 assisted by a staff of chemists, botanists, etc.; its 

 experimental plantations spread over the slopes of the 

 surrounding heights, and range in altitude from 1,300 

 to 3,000 feet. 



Its chief object is the development of the agricul- 

 tural resources of the country, by means of practical 

 experiments, through the selection of such plants, seeds, 

 etc., as are the most suitable, and by ascertaining the 

 best and most economical methods of cultivation and 

 treatment, and wherever possible to introduce the cul- 

 tivation of exotic trees. 



For the use of planters and others, who may desire 

 to benefit by the experience gained at this institution, 

 there is a guest-house with an extensive library attached 

 to it, and the institute regularly publishes ofiiicial 

 pamphlets. There are also two planters' associations 

 with their headquarters at Tanga and Dar-es-Salaam, 

 in the country. 



