126 
daily flow from each tree being 0°579 litre.’ The yield of aleohol from 
the sap is given at from 4°1 to 7°5 per cent., and approximately 
90,000,000 litres of sap were distilled in the Philippines (1910), 
producing 9,023,323 litres of proof alcohol.’ 
Sago Palm (Caryota urens, Linn.), a handsome palm, common in 
Tropical Asia and Malaya. A spirit is sometimes distilled from 
the sap, but this as an industry is of secondary importance to that of 
fibre ( Kittool ”) production. — 
Mahwa (Bassia latifolia, Roxb.). A large deciduous tree of 
India and Burma. In India a spirit called ‘“‘ Madhvi” is distilled 
from the flowers on an extensive scale. The approximate yield is 
given at six gallons per cwt. The flowers were tried in England 
as far back as 1877 for distillation and the refuse for feeding cattle, 
but although the report was favourable, no further progress seems 
to have been made. It has been stated that flowers exported from 
Bombay to France, have, after distillation, been returned to that 
port in the form of “French Brandy,” * but there does not appear 
to be any trade in them now, and the use for distillation is probably 
confined to India, or to countries where the tree is abundant. 
Pulque Maguey ( Agave atrovirens, Karw., and other species). The 
Maguey Agaves are cultivated throughout the mountain region and 
on the table-lands of Mexico, for the production of “ Pulque” a 
fermented beverage which forms the national drink of the country. 
Every house it is stated has a few plants growing near it to supply 
pulque for the family.‘ Propagated by suckers or bulbils, the_ 
plants are ready for tapping in from 4-7 years. The flow of sap 
may continue for upwards of 120 days or until the plant dies, 
yielding under ordinary conditions from two quarts to a gallon of 
Juice per day.° The plants are tapped by cutting out the heart or 
central portion when the inflorescence is about to burst out and 
would otherwise develop into flower. This juice has been recom- 
mended as a source of industrial alcohol. 
(7.) Woop or Woopy SuBsTaNcrs. 
Methyl or Wood Alcohol may be obtained from almost any hard 
wood. The species generally used for the purpose are Beech 
(Fagus sylvatica, Linn.), Oak (Quercus spp.), Thorn (Crataegus 
Oxyacantha, Linn.)—this in Great Britain beg regarded as one 
of the best, though it is not always obtainable in sufficient quantities ; 
Birch (Betula alba, Linn.), and Maple (Acer saccharinum, Wang.), 
&c. The value depends largely on the quantity available, con- 
venience, cheapness, and the means of disposing of the by-products 
—charcoal, acetate of lime, &c. The wood may be subjected to 
distillation green or seasoned. It has been found that the amount 
of wood alcohol obtained from a cord of wood [8 ft. x 4 ft. x 
4 ft. = 128 cubic ft.] in the two forms of apparatus—“ oven” and 
1 Gibbs, Ic. p. 121. 
* Le pa 
. Jackson, “ Comm. Botany, 19th Century,” p. 150. 
* Rose, “ Notes on Useful Pl. Mexico,” Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. v. No. 4, 
1899, p. 224. 
° Mon. Cons. and Trade Rep. Washington, No. 328, 1908, p. 118. 
