110 



Bomb ax emarginatum also produces cotton, of a similar kind, but 

 more silky and better esteemed for Upholsterers use, than the silk 

 cotton of Eriodendron, known in commerce as " Kapok." 



A specimen of this Bombax is to be seen in the Botanic Gardens 

 and also in front of the new Mansion of Leon Agostini, Esq., on the 

 Maraval Road, where it was planted on land formerly belonging to the 

 Government, but now sold for building purposes. 



636.-FUNTUMIA BLASTICA. 



This Rubber continues to thrive at the Experimental Station 

 St. Clair and has again this year produced a fine crop of seed which 

 has sold readily. The trees are now some 30 feet in height although 

 only some t> years of age. Rubber of good quality has been extracted 

 from them, the analysis of which -was published in our issue for 

 January of this year. 



637.-OTHER USES FOR CARBON BI-SULPHIDE. 



Among the many uses to which this chemical can be put. are the 

 following :— 



1. The destruction of boring beetles in Cacao trees. 



2. The destruction of land crabs in estates near the sea. 



3. The killing of insects, for entomological specimens. 



In the first two cases it is only necessary to saturate a small 

 plug of cotton wool with the liquid, place in the holes and cover to 

 exclude air. 



For insects, a few drops should be poured on blotting paper at the 

 bottom of a wide mouth bottle, the insect placed inside and allowed 

 to remain from one to three minutes. A longicorn beetle was most 

 effectively given his quietus in less than two minutes by the writer 

 while engaged on the present article. The body of the insect was 

 over 3 inches in length. 



Land Crabs have been most effectively destroyed at the Botanic 

 Station, Tobago by this method. 



638.-COTTON. 



During the past season several experimental attempts have been 

 made to grow cotton with more or less success. 



The trial at the Experiment Station, St. Clair, for 1903-4 was not 

 of sufficient extent, to warrant a detailed description ; but it may be 

 recorded that " Sea Island " Cotton proved a failure, through the 

 attack of various insects on the bolls, causing them to rot upon the 

 stem. A simliar attack appeared on Kidney Cotton with like results, 

 while in a cottage garden not many chains distant, plants were unaffected, 

 which fact is strong evidence that our land was specially infested with 

 certain insects. The " Upland or Creole Cotton did not Buffer from like 

 attack, but a sample of Lint was produced from it which has been 



