Vol. XV. No. 370. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



219 



A NEW MOTOR SPIRIT FROM MOLASSES. 



Alcohol has for many years been experimented with 

 as a substitute for petrol, but its use lia^. been open to objec- 

 tion on account of the fact that an engine built for the use 

 of petrol is not quite suitable for a fuel of so high a density 

 as alcohol: moreover, alcohol has been considered to be 

 insufficiently volatile, of insufficient calorific value, and above 

 all, it has been found to corrode the engine through the 

 formation of acid during the process of combustion. During 

 1914, the inventors of a new motor spirit, known com- 

 mercially as Natalite, succeeded in overcoming all the 

 objections, the three first by converting a large percentage of 

 the alcohol into ether, thereby reducing the density, increas- 

 ing the volatility, and increasing the value to practically that 

 of petrol; corrosion was overcome by the use of an alkali 

 ■which, during the process of combustion, neutralizes the 

 acids produced by the alcohol and ether. 



Natalite is prepared from molasses, and it has been 

 subjected to properly conducted tests by various authorities, 

 the report of one being given below. In the Natal Arjri- 

 culiura' News for March \b, 1916, there is a prospectus of 

 the newly formed company which is about to manufacture 

 this new fuel on a commercial basis. The name of the 

 company is the South African Natalite Motor Spirit Com- 

 pany, Ltd. It has a capital of £75,000. 



It is estimated that a complete plant including buildings 

 required to make in the aggregate 2,000,000 gallons of 

 Natalite per annum would cost £36,000. This plant would 

 enable the company to turn out 6,000 gallons of 

 Natalite per day. 



Certificates are published from the Eoyal Automobile 

 Club, London, from the late Profes.sor Vivian B. Lewes, from 

 Professor Demmison, Professor of Chemistry at the Natal 

 T'niversity College, and from Professors Hahn and Rindl. 

 The report of the Royal Automobile Club runs as follows: — 



Certificate of Performance (under the Open Competition 

 Rules of the R.A.C., No. 423) in a test of Natalite Fuel, 

 May 13 to May 1.5, 1915. 



This is to certify that a sample of 'Natalite' Fuel was 

 entered by Messrs. The Natalite Mi;>tor Spirit Conipanj-, 

 Limited, of Durban, Natal, for a 500 miles consumption 

 test. 



The fuel appeared to consist of alcohol and ether, about 

 40 per cent, of ether being present. Methyl alcohol was pre- 

 sent probably as a denaturant. The result of a distillation 

 test was as follows : — • 



Distilled Distilled Distilled 



below below below 



10 per cent. 46° C. 40 per cent. 74 C. 70 per cent. 78°C. 

 20 „ „ 54° C. 50 „ „ 77° C. 80 , „ 79""C- 

 30 „ „ 64" C. 60 „ „ 78° C. 90 „ „ 8.3°C. 



Specific gravity at 15 5° C. (hydrometer) 0-783 



The car used was a 22 h.p. (22-4 R.A.C. Rating) 

 Charron car, reputed year 1910. The car weighed 3,640 B). 

 (321 cwt.) with passengers. 



The trial was held upon three of the Club's six standard 

 routes, and the distance covered was 50 1| miles. The 

 weather was very wet on the first day. The cape hood was 

 in use all the day, and the roads were heavy. The other two 

 days were fine. 



The dimensions of the engine were 95 mm. by 130 mm. 

 (4 cylinders). The volume swept by the piston was 92 1 '47 c.c, 

 while the volume of the combustion chamber was 343 c.c, 

 giving a compres.sion ratio of 3'7. The carburetter used was 

 a Sole.x. 



The amount of fuel used wis 30-59 gallons, being 

 a consumption of KvlO miles per gallon, or 26-20 ton mile.s 

 per gallon. 



The engine on all occ.isions stirted easily from cold or- 

 when warm. 



The valve caps and valve head.s were found to be very 

 clean after the trial. The rest of the engine was not 

 dismantled. 



It would seem that enterprise on the part of South Africa 

 will stimulate similar efforts to utilize molasses in Cuba and 

 other places in the West Indies. 



THE BIRDS OF PORTO RICO. 



The Rev. Dawson, in his article in our last issue on Econo- 

 mic Aviculture refers to liulletin No. 326 on the Birds of Porto 

 Rico, i.ssued by the Hureau of Biological Survey of the I'nited 

 States Department of Agriculture. This publication contain-s. 

 a large amount of information and is worth further noting. In 

 the first place it gives a complete list of the different species 

 of birds with an account of their habitats and of their foods. 

 From an economic stand-point, a .section of great interest is- 

 that dealing with species commonly found in cane fields^ 

 coffee plantations, and citrus groves. 



In regard to the birds of cane fields, it is stated that no- 

 bird harms the cane in any way; those that are not directly 

 beneficial by destroying insects, and to a less extent weed 

 seed, are neutral and do no damage. During most of the 

 year, only adult insects of the important pests are available, 

 immature forms being exposed mainly at ploughing time. To 

 see a flock of blackbirds (Holoqwisralus brachppterus) at that 

 season following clo.sely in the furrows behind the plough, 

 eating greedily and carrying food to their young, emphasizes 

 their value. Other beneficial birds in cane fields are Croto- 

 phaaa ani and one of the Tyrant birds. 



In regard to citrus groves, it is stated that a iew birds 

 were seen eating oranges, but in every case they attack only 

 wild fruit that was dead-ripe and beginning to .soften. 

 Quail doves peck open the rotting sweet oranges for the 

 seeds as they lay on the ground, but no birds were found 

 attacking sound fruit in the groves. 



Turning to another section in the paper of great 

 economic interest, namely, the bird enemies of different pests, 

 we learn that the blackbird is not .such a useful species in 

 destroying mole-crickets as t'le somewhat despised Butor- 

 ide$ V. cuhanus. The bird enemies of the sugar-cane root 

 borer include the blackbird, the larger fly catchers, and several 

 others. In regard to the May beetle (Luchnostenia sp.) the 

 locally termed bird Mucaro {Oynuuisio n. nudipes) is by far 

 the most important, and by its nocturnal habits can success- 

 fully cope with adults when they are flying. 



The number of resident species of birds in Porto Rico 

 are, in common with other \V'est Indian islands, few At the 

 same time the census shows a fairly dense population. To 

 encourage birds it is pointed out in the Bulletin under 

 review that it is necessary to provide shelter and perches. 

 In the cane fields, it is stated, stakes should be planted, 

 and in places where birds are required, it is always necessary 

 to provide them with shelter from the burning heat of the 

 mid-day sun. Another matter which requires attention in 

 connexion with the control of bird life is legislation. Legal 

 protection must be provided, but before this can be done 

 efficiently, it must be known to what extent some birds are 

 beneficial and others noxious. As an aid in the enforcement 

 of protective laws no method is of more value than the 

 education of school children to look on birds as friends -end. 

 not to disturb them. 



