134 



poured off every day, the prussic acid estimated, and a fresh supply of 

 water was added. Finally Hydrochloric acid was used and this eliminated 

 ihe whole of the prussic acid. We have now ascertained that the total 

 Prussic acid can be estimated in one operation by treating the cassava 

 with Hydrochloric acid and distilling in steam. This will greatly 

 facilitate the operation of determining Prussic acid. 



Our results, so far, appear to confirm Professor Carmody's statement 

 that an analytical difi'erence can be drawn between sweet and bitter 

 cassava based on the fact that in the bitter the poison is uniformly 

 distributed in the whole tuber, while in sweet cassava most of the 

 poison is contained in the peel. Further experiments are in progress 

 and we have been promised the assistance of Mr. J. T, Palache in ob- 

 taining further supplies of sweet cassavas for analysis and experiment. 

 So far we have not examined a Jamaican sweet cassava that can be 

 called * sweet' or non-poisonous to the same degree as the Colombian 

 varieties. 



Hvdrocyan-c Acid from Cassavas. (Inverness.) 



This table shows that the amount of Prussic Acid in the cortex of 

 both Bitter and Sweet Varieties varies but little. The Bitter Cassa- 

 vas, however, contain a decidedly higher proportion of the poison in 

 the inner portion. Carmody's rule would have enabled anyone to 

 identify JN'os 1, 2 and 3 as Sweet Cassavas and to conclude that the 

 remaining four varieties were Bitter. Some recent analyses, however, 

 convince me that in Jamaica the gradation between ' sweet' and 'bitter* 

 varieties is by no means marked, since varieties intermediate between 

 the two types exist. 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The ususal monthly meeting of the Board was held at Head Quarter 

 House on Tuesday, 21st April at 9 o'clock. Present : The Hon. the 

 •Colonial Secretary, (Chairman), The Hon. the Director of Public Gar- 

 dens the Government Chemist, Mr. C. E. DeMercado, Mr. J. Shore 

 iind Mr. C. A. Fursdon. 



The Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. 



The following letters were dealt with ; — 



