JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1913. 



45 



"The sugar-making possibilities of these saps, considered commercially, seem to 

 hinge largely upon conditions under which the sap can be gathered and handled. The 

 saps of the three principal sugar-bearing palms, the nipa, the coco, and the buri [see 

 S. P. I. No. 35689], run remarkably close together in composition. The average com- 

 position at 15/15 density runs about 17.5 per cent solids; 0.46 per cent ash; 0.54 per 

 cent nitrogenous compounds, etc.; 16.5 per cent sucrose and traces of reducing sugars 

 and acidity. As they exude from the trees these saps are generally neutral, but they 

 ferment quickly, and one of the problems in sugar making would be the preservation 

 of sap until it could be worked-. 



"The sap from these trees as a rule is obtained through the flower stalk. In the nipa 

 the flower stalk is cut off immediately below the fruit. It is generally tapped the 

 fifth year. Each day a thin slice is cut from the severed stem to keep the wound fresh 

 and facilitate the flow of sap. The sap is collected in bamboo joints (Spanish, hom- 

 hones) hung on the stem, generally having a capacity of about two liters. One stalk 

 normally flows about three months, but it is not uncommon for it to be cut entirely 

 away by the thin slices from day to day, long before the flow has ceased. In some 

 districts the plant is cut before the fruit forms, and the flow of sap is increased thereby 

 so far as daily output is concerned, but the length of the flow is shortened, the total 

 yield of the plant apparently being about the same by either method. The plants are 

 allowed to rest and put forth new fruit stalks after being thus exhausted. How long 

 they continue to bear is uncertain, but all authorities agree that a plant will continue 

 to produce sap for many yeai's, probably for 50 years or more on an average. The 

 yield of sap also is uncertain, and estimates vary between wide limits. An experi- 

 enced distiller says that each plant will average about 1:^- quarts daily, or 13.2 gallons 

 for a season. " {George E. Andeison, in abstract of report by Dr. H. D. Gibbs on the Alcohol 

 Industry in the Philippines, in Daily Consular and Trade Reports, December 4, 1911.) 



36059. Olea verrucosa (R. and S.) Link. Wild olive. 



From Simondium, near Paarl, Cape Province, Union of South Africa. Presented 

 by ^Mr. C. W. Mally, entomologist. Department of Agriculture, Cape Town. 

 Received August 11, 1913. 

 "A tree so like the European olive that where the two are growing alongside in 

 cultivation it is difficult to flnd a distinction except the size of the fruit. Leaves 

 lanceolate or linear lanceolate, 2 to 4 inches long, one-thii'd to one-half inch wide, 

 tapering somewhat to both ends, acute, coriaceous, shortly petioled, the under surface 

 clothed with small, flat, scarious yellowish scales so closely adpressed as to give the 

 appearance of a glabrous yellow surface, the upper surface and the twigs sometimes 

 similarly clad at first and afterwai'ds glabrous, in other cases almost glabrous from 

 the first. Panicles axillary, trichotomous, not much branched, rather shorter than 

 the leaves. Bracts deciduous. Fruit an oblong dry drupe about one-fourth inch 

 long, shortly pointed. Usually a tree 20 to 30 feet high, 12 to 18 inches in diameter, 

 branched a good deal, and wfth little clean timber; occasionally, however, trunks 

 3 feet in diameter, exceedingly gnarled and hollow, are to be found, even up in the 

 Herechal district, which, considering its slow growth, must have taken a very long 

 time to grow. The timber, which is of a dark gi'ay or almost black color and often 

 wavy in grain, is equal to Ptaeroxylon utile in durability as a fencing pole, and even 

 the branches make good poles. Fourcade describes the wood as 'extremely heavy, 

 very hard, very strong, moderately elastic, very close grained, and compact.' About 

 3,000 dry seeds go to 1 pound weight; the seeds, however, do not germinate quickly, 

 and as hard-wood cuttings strike, that method of propagation is preferred. In culti- 

 vation it is found to be liable to attack by a mealy aphis. The European olive has 

 been successfully budded upon young plants of this species. " {Sim, Forest Flora of 

 Cape Colony.) 



