308 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWSJ 



Septembee 28; 1912. 



FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES. 



THE FEEDING AND MANORIAL VALUES 



OF LIME SKINS. 



The followinjj; note on this matter has been 

 received from Mr. H. A. Tempany, B.Sc, Superin- 

 tendent of Agriculture for the Leeward Islands: — 



The disposal of the expressed skins obtained in the 

 extraction of lime juice by nailling i.s a question of some 

 interest to those engaged in the lime industry. In some 

 cases, the lime skins are simply thrown away, but a far 

 better practice is to utilize them either for feeding stock or 

 for manurial purposes direct. 



Cattle will eat lime skins readily, and they possess 

 value both directly as a fodder and also as a relish to the 

 ordinary rations of stock. 



On certain estates in Dominica the practice exists of 

 making a species of ensilage of lime skins; this appears to be 

 a useful method of dealing with them, since the limes 

 produced in excess of the requirements of the stock on an 

 estate during crop time can be utilized for feeding purposes 

 out of crop. When properly handled, lime skins do not 

 appear to suffer any deterioration when treated in this way. 



The following analytical data, obtained in the Govern- 

 ment Laboratory for the Leeward Islands concerning two 

 such samples of ensilage from estates in Domirfica, are of 

 some interest in view of the complete absence of published 

 information of this character at the present time. The samples 

 were obtained and forwarded by Mr. J. .Jones, Curator of 

 the Botanic Station, Dominica. 



Moisture 

 Nitrogen 



Equivalent crude protein 

 Crude fibre 

 Extracted matter 

 Albuminoid nitrogen 

 True protein 



In the case of neither sample was the ash determined, 

 Other determinations tend to show, however, that the ash 

 content of lime skins is in the region of 1 per cent.; assuming 

 this value in the case of sample B, we arrive at an approxi- 

 mate value of 14'0 per cent, for the crude carbohydrate 

 content and 12 2 for the albuminoid ratio on the crude 

 protein. 



From this it will be seen that the ensilages have 

 a distinct feeding value, though they are somewhat deficient 

 in proteins. Under the head Extracted Matter must be 

 included the residues of the essential oil not expressed in the 

 processes of ecuelling and milling; it is to this and the 

 residues of citric acid, included under the head crude carbo- 

 hydrates, that the skins owe their value as a relish. 



The following analysis of the manurial value of lime 

 skins is reproduced from the Report on Sugar-cane experi- 

 ments in the Leeward Islands for 1905-6, 



Nitrogen. 

 0-314 



Ammonia. 

 0-381 



Phosphoric acid. 

 0-006 



Potash. 

 0-148 



From the above analysis it is calculated that lime skins 

 are worth •'SO-95 per ton for manurial purposes. 



ORANGE CULTIVATION IN DUTCH 

 GUIANA. 



In a note in L'Agriculture Pratique des Paps C/Mitds 

 for May 1912, it is stated that the French ViceConsul at 

 Kotterdam has drawn attention to the importance that 

 orange-growing is attaining in Dutch Guiana, and the 

 suggestion is given that perhaps this importance merits the 

 attention of planters in French Guiana. 



The statement is made that, under the conditions, the 

 establishment of a plantation giving useful results and 

 consequently having an area of about 300 acres necessitates 

 a capital amounting to something like £16,500, without 

 taking account of the expenses for the construction of 

 dwelling house.s, store-houses and other necessary buildings. 

 There would be a modification of this estimate where it is 

 possible to acquire old plantations that are still productive. 



In the seventh year the income should exceed the 

 expenditure. The trees should produce, on an average, 

 300 fruits a year, although it is possible for this figure to be 

 as high as 600, and even 1 ,000. The fruits, after deduction 

 has been made for the expenses of plucking, packing and 

 exportation should give a profit of about ^d. each. This 

 return may be greatly increased in the case of oranges 

 belonging to specially esteemed kinds; these should afford 

 a 11 refit about three times as large. 



