262 



" Ii> view of the fact that these Kubiaceous plants with nodule- 

 bearino: leaves occur in many parts of the tropics, and that in 

 India the value of their leaves has long been recognized, and con- 

 sidering the importance of nitrogen-fixing legumes as soil enrichers, 

 the suggestion of Faber that we may have in these trees and shrubs 

 plants of positive agricultural value deserves the serious considera- 

 tion of tropical planters. If they can be grown as subsidiary crops 

 beneath plantations of ruljher, cacao, coffee, or other important 

 tropical cultures, and their leaves allowed to accumulate upon the 

 ground to serve as a mulch and as nitrogenous fertilizer, they may 

 have great value. They differ from the leguminous cover-crops in 

 that they are perennial in habit, and will not need to be replanted 

 every year. It might be i)ossible to prune them severely every year 

 and utilize the clippings as fertilizer. The subject is one "which 

 opens up a new field in connection with tropical agriculture, and 

 one which offers remarkable possibilities." 



As the Bubiaceae are well represented in this part of the world 

 it will be of interest to ascertain if any local representatives are 

 provided with these leaf nodules. 



T. F. C. 



Paper. 



The sources from Avhich paper pulp can be obtained are con- 

 tinually being discussed especially with a view to seeing what pro- 

 ducts of tropical forests or open country that are at present wasted 

 can be turned to good account. The results of investigations on 

 bamboos, grasses, etc. are given in Bulletin Xo. 16 of the Philippine 

 Bureau of Forestry. 



The following interesting account of the manufacture of paper 

 pulp from " lalang " or "' blacly grass " (Imperaia arundinacea, 

 Cyr.) is taken from the Queensland Agricultural Journal, Vol. 

 XII, Xovember 191!). " It takes three tons of green blady grass to 

 manufacture 1 ton of crude pulp, while it takes, at least, 7 to 8 

 tons of sugar-cane to jnake 1 ton of brown sugar. Delivered in 

 the Southern l\aper Mill, the pulp is worth, at least, £21 per ton 

 a value equal to that of one ton of sugar. Under present condi- 

 tions the cost of manufacturing the pulp is greater than that of 

 making sugar, owing chiefly to the fact that chemicals are dear 

 and the machinery and appliances have not been perfected ;_ but 

 Mr. Campbell can show ^lot only hpw to make good use of local 

 ■criule alkalis, but, also, how to bring the application of his method 

 up to sugar aiiill standard, thus greatly decreasing the cost of 

 manufacture. This would mean that a higher price chould be paid 

 for the grass — in fact, a price equal to that of sugar cane, say £2 

 per ton green — making 1 ton of hitherto useless blady grass (con- 

 sidered a pest and a curse by the cane-farmer) growing witliout 

 cultivation, equal in value to 1 ton of the best cultivated sugar- 

 cane. 



