GINEP AS A STOCK FOOD. 



By H. H. Cousins, M.A., Agricultural Chemist. 

 My attention was called to the practical value of the fruit of 

 ginep (Melicocca bijuga) for feeding sheep by Mr. Facey of 

 Montego Bay — 



Analyses have been made in the Laboratory with the following 

 results : — 



GINEP. 



Skin 227 % Seed 317 '1, Pulp 45-6 1 



The seed is fairly rich in albuminoids and may fairly be regarded 

 as a concentrated food-stuff that should be valuable as an addition 

 to grass and green fodder. 



THE PALMYRA PALM. 



Sir J. E. Tennant in his work on " Ceylon," speaks as follows 

 of the Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabelliformis). 



" The palmyra is an invaluable palm, and one of the most 



beautiful of the family. It grows in such profusion over the 



north of Ceylon, and especially in the peninsula of Jaffna, as to 



form extensive forests, whence its timber is exported for rafters 



to all parts of the island, as well as to the opposite coast of India, 



where, though the palmyra grows luxuriantly, its wood, from local 



causes, is too soft and perishable to be used for any purpose 



requiring strength and durability, qualities which, in the palmyra 



of Ceylon, are pre-eminent. To the inhabitants of the northern 



provinces this invaluable tree is of the same importance as the 



coco-nut palm is to the natives of the south. Its fruits yields them 



food and oil ; its juice " palm wine" and sugar ; its stem is the 



chief material of their builings ; and its leaves, besides serving as 



roofs to their dwellings and fences to their farms, supply them 



with matting and baskets, with head-dresses and fans, and serve 



as a substitute for paper for their deeds and writings, and for the 



sacred books, which contain the traditions of their faith. It has 



been said with truth that a native of Jaffna, if he be contented 



