THE CUBA REVIEW 



29 



Euphorbia Juice Prevents Corrosion* 



In Newman's Metallic Structures an 

 account is' given of the use of the milky 

 juice of the Euphorbias (spurges) for 

 preventing corrosion. It is stated that 

 it is only in comparatively recent years 

 that the preserving qualities of Euphorbia 

 latex have been made use of in engineering 

 structures, and then only occasionally. A 

 description is further given on the way 

 in which this property was discovered. It 

 appears that, during a surveying expedition 

 in Natal, it was noticed that, when Euphor- 

 bia plants were cut by the clearing knives, 

 the juice formed a layer on them which 

 could only be removed with great difficulty. 

 Further experiments with pieces of iron 

 that had come into contact with the juice 

 showed that these did not rust, and that 

 when they were immersed in sea water, 

 at Durban, they remained free from bar- 

 nacles and were not affected bv anv form 



_*An article on the Euphorbia, showing that its 

 juice made a good substitute for rubber, was 

 printed in the Review for April, 1909. 



of marine life. In Natal, laths coated 

 with Euphorbia latex, together with those 

 which had not been so treated, were thrust 

 into_ nests of the white ant (Termes 

 bellicosus) ; after twenty-four hours, the 

 treated laths were found to be unaffected, 

 while those which had not come into con- 

 tact with the juice were completely rid- 

 dled by the insects. It is further stated 

 that timber coated with Euphorbia latex 

 remained untouched by the sea worm 

 (Teredo navalis), and mention is made of 

 the employment of the juice in making 

 paint. 



Since this, according to the Agricultural 

 Journal of the Cape of Good Hope, as 

 a result of the inquiries on the part of 

 the Somerset East Chamber of Commerce, 

 it has been ascertained that the above 

 statements regarding the preserving prop- 

 erties of the juice are correct, and that, 

 although owing to its gummy nature it 

 is no longer used in paints, it is employed 

 by makers of compositions for ships' bot- 

 toms. 



Havana. (Barbados Nezus.) 



Remedy for Cut Worms 



A correspondent of the Brooklyn Eagle, 

 who had suffered from the work of cut 

 worms, and who had studied books and 

 tried every remedy, made one himself 

 which he declares worked out the best on 

 his farm. It is as follows : 



"Alix eight quarts of ordinary wheat bran 

 with a pint of molasses that has been 

 diluted in two quarts of scalding water, 

 or so much as will moisten the bran so 

 that none of the water would drain off, 

 and then when a little cool, mix in two 

 heaping tablespoonfuls of paris green ; mix 

 thoroughly until every part of the bran 

 shows a shade of green. Place a small 

 quantity of this dose around each plant 

 or_ along the rows (which is easily and 

 quickly done), but not touching the "plant. 

 I will bet a big apple you will have no 

 further trouble, as the worms, being fond 

 of sweets, eat heartily and quickly die. 



The Euphorbia in Cuba 



Hogs will fatten on the lablab bean equal 

 to or better than if corn-fed. If cooked, 

 the cow will surprise you with cream on 

 her milk. The cow pea is good, the velvet 

 bean is better, the lablab is best." 



Agency for the Island of Cuba of 



THE LIVERPOOL & LONDON & fiLOBE INSURANCE CO. 



This Company will issue Binders on risks in the Island of Cuba at their New York Office. 



45 WILLIAM STREET Jo^^Dro 



FIRE AND BOILER EXPLOSION 



