242 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1884. 



Assuming that the average annual rainfall on the estate 

 to be 90 inches— the total quantity of Ammonia from the 

 above results would amount to 87 lb. in round numbers, 

 and the Nitric Acid to as much as 1481b. 



These figures are so very high, and so much above what 

 was found in the rain water collected by Mr. Walker 

 of Bogawantalawa and reported on last November, that it 

 would be desirable to make enquiry respecting the manner 

 in which this particular sample was collected and stored 

 betweon the 16th November, 1883, and Gth March, 1884. 



From the accompanying table of rainfall, it will be 

 noticed that the total of 20-81 inches extends over 42 

 days and has been made up by numerous showers, most 

 of which are less than i-inch ; in only six instances did 

 the quantity exceed I inch per day, and in these it varied 

 from 1-35 to 352 inches. Doubtless the rain yielded by 

 these showers does contain a much larger proportion of 

 Ammonia and Nitric Acid to that found in water repre- 

 senting a heavy storm of from 3 to 6 or more inches 

 of rain, but it would be desirable to make enquiries as 

 suggested, especially as the relatively large quantity of 

 mineral matters found on evaporation, leads me to con- 

 clude that some impurities had become accidently intro- 

 duced. 



For sending samples of water, clean white glass spirit 

 bottles well corked are always to be preferred to 

 stone jars. John Hughes, f.c.s., 



Fellow of the Institute of Chi mistry. 



Rain-water collected on Meeriabedde, Koslanda, Ceylon, 

 between Nov. 16th and March Gth, 1884. 



Carried Forward. . 1074 



March 7th, 1884. 



Total in Inches.. 20-81 



(Signed) Tom Gibson. 



Anah tic. il Laboratory, 79, Mark Lane, London, E. C. 

 June 12th, 1884. 



No. 2. — Rain Water received in a stone jar cased with 

 wicker, collected on Wallaha estate, in the district of 

 Liudula, Ceylon, between August 1st and October 21st, 

 1883, and supposed to represent the 24 '93 inches of rain 

 registered between the above dates. 



An Imperial gallon was found to yield on evaporation 

 solid residue, dried at 212 ° F=07'-'O grains, cousistiugof : 



Fatty and Volatile Matters . . 55'44 grains. 



Mineral Matters _. . .. 11-76 



Total 67-20 



The water had a strong acid reaction, with a very dis- 

 agreeable rancid smell, and a decided vellow appearance. 



It was evidently not pure rain water, but was contamin- 

 ated with fatty matters, while the mineral residue con- 

 tained over 4 grains of Lime, 2 grains of Oxido of Iron 

 and Alumina, and nearly 5 grains of Sulphates. On break- 

 ing open the stone jar, the interior was found thickly 

 coated with partially decomposed fatty matter. 



Under these circumstances it was useless to proceed fur- 

 ther with the analysis for Ammonia and Nitric Acid, as 

 the results could not be of any practical value. 



John Hughes, f. c. s., 

 Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry. 



GOSSIP ABOUT SULU. 

 White coral and lava lie about the town a good 

 deal, but it cannot be considered good paving material. 

 The freshest and coolest streams of fresh water are 

 plentiful, and there is an abundance of fruit, of 

 which a large quantity is exported to Siugapore 

 but by far a larger quantity rots on the ground. 

 Cockatoos, and green parrots are flitting about every- 

 where. There is no jungle, — only here and there a 

 tine clump of trees, the remainder of the soil being 

 uncovered except by grass. Nothing could be more 

 like a fine English park from the appearance of the 

 land, and the cbauces are that whilst you are looking 

 at it a deer or two will bound across the view. A 

 bastard teak growB on the hill sides, palms are plenti- 

 ful, copra is largely exported to Singapore and a soap 

 tree grows largely. What a treat the exploration of 

 the whole place would give a botanist. Flowers grow 

 everywhere ; recently some orchids were sent from 

 here to H. R. H. the Prince of Wales by special com- 

 mand. There is only one plantation worth noticing, 

 and tint is a very line one, on which grows hemp, 

 coffee, cacao and sugar, to perfection. 



The most important product has yet to be mentioned, 

 and that is pearls, mother of pearl and oilier valuable 

 shells. Mr. Streeter has an agent here, and through 

 his courtesy I witnessed some important transaction?; 

 The rule regarding pearls is said to be that all pearls 

 are to be first submiited to the Sultan ; if he wishes 

 to buy his offer in not disputed, or the pearl finder would 

 be punished and the gem confiscated. So all trade in 

 this article is done sub rosd but notwithstanding the 

 great cunuing of some Chinese buj ore they get caught 

 sometimes and then ! — The pearl shells in the rough 

 and unsorted are worth from $30 to $45 per picul. 

 They make very attractive wall decorations when treated 

 as I saw some ; they were about 10 in. in diameter 

 and were spotless. Several were painted very fairly 

 by the amateurs of the island. Some of the shells had 

 also bright little water color figures cut out and stuck 

 on them. The Sulu diver is said to be the best in 

 the world ; he can dive in IS fathoms. I timed one 

 man under water 4 4-5th minutes. — China Mail. 



Cinchona Officinalis has flowered well in the Bris- 

 bane Botanic Gardens. As this is the first instance 

 of the cinchona flowering in Queensland, it is partic- 

 ularly worthy of note, indicating as it does the suit- 

 ability of the climate for its growth, and the prospect 

 of Queensland in the not very distant future contri- 

 buting town ills the supply of cinchona bark for the 

 markets of tie world. The tree in question, about 

 five feet iu luight, is quite hardy with ordinary cult- 

 ivation in the open ground, and may be considered 

 a fair success. — Madras Mail. [As we know to our 

 cost iu Ceylon, the early flowering of the cinchona 

 tree isau adverse rather than a favourable sign.— Ed.] 



WELLS' "ROUGH ON CORNS." 

 Ask for Wells' "Rough on Corns." Quick relief, com- 

 plete, permanent cure. Corns, warts, bullions, W. B 



Smith & Co., Madras, Sole Agents. 



