XXXL. The Fermentation of Cacao 
it was practically similar to the motor spirit 
that can be bought to day in any garage in 
England. The conclusions that were arrived 
at from the tests were that any petrol engine 
of modern type can be run on alcohol without 
any material change in its construction, and 
that the only difficulty would be that of starting 
up from cold. For air-cooled automobile en- 
gines alcohol was found to be specially suitable, 
as the temperature of the cylinder can rise 
much higher before pre-ignition takes place 
than is the case when petrol is used. No tests 
were made to determine the maximum possible 
change in fuel consumption that could be 
effected by causing the spark to occur at differ- 
ent positions, but it-was found that an early 
ignition was most suitable, and that the fuel 
consumption was better at low than at high 
speeds. When the initial compression was 
increased from 75 |b. to 125 lb. per square inch 
there was a slight but appreciable reduction in 
the amount of fuel used. With any good 
stationary engine it was found that a consump- 
tion of 1°16 lb. of alcohol produced the same 
power as a consumption of 0°70 |b. of petrol.” 
In spite of the excise trouble elsewhere, no 
doubt in the Tropics, although everyone.there 
is not always a strict teetotaler, the spirit could 
be rendered so unpalatable that it would be 
impossible even for the owner of the most 
hardened palate to drink it, while its use, if pur- 
chasable at a cheap rate, would by supplying 
