294 ' 



Before closing this paper, the writer %vould emphasize the fact 

 that C"astor-oil is not a crop for extensive cultivation as a pure 

 crop on a large scale. One of the reasons for this is that it pro- 

 duces normal crops only under such conditions as are quite con- 

 genial to it, and one such condition is shade during at least, one 

 part of the day not overhead shade, hut side ?hade from large trees 

 growing to the East or the West of the field. 



A planter of very long experience, in a letter to the writer, 

 says : " C-astor-oil is a peculiar plant. I reared it in Africa. 

 "Grown wild, it yields well; cultivated in plantations, it hardly 

 "yields at all: moreover the oil is of irregular and inconstant 

 " density." 



The same is to some extent ohservahle in the Economic Gardens 

 for the plants growing in the full sun — their growth is backward, 

 their flowering is poor — whilst the trees which receive, either in 

 the morning or in the afternoon, the shade from large neighbouring 

 trees are showing quite good crops. 



E. Mathieu. 



"Rrferexces: 



Bulletin Imperial Institute 1911. 

 Tropical Agriculturist August 1914. 

 Mukerji, Handbook of Indian Agriculture. 

 The Book of the Madras Exhibition 1915-1916. 

 Laucks Commercial oils 1919. 



Betel. 



One of the first things noticed by the newcomer to the East is 

 the red appearance of the lips and teeth of the natives together with 

 their habit of chewing. He may also observe, particularly in 

 country districts, that many of the natives carry a small tin or 

 receptacle of some description about with them. A peep into this 

 tin would bring to light various things but chief amongst them 

 would be found some betel nut and betel leaves. These form the 

 chief constituents of the mixture, known as "betel," which is 

 chewed by many of the Eastern peoples. In towns the mixture 

 may be seen ready made up for sale. 



It is intended to give a ])rief outline of these two ingredients 

 namely Betel Nut, the seeds of Areca Catechu, L., and Betel Leaf, 

 the leaf of Piper Beth, L. The production of the former parti- 

 cularly, is essentially a native industry and is interesting on this 

 account. 



