Stick-insects, however, are said to be more easily destroyed in the egg stage. The United States 

 Duipheromera drops its eggs on the ground beneath the tree, not attaching them to anything ; and 

 there can be little doubt that the Jamaica Necroscia does the same. Among the specimens I received 

 from Mr. Sidgwick, was a single loose egg, which had doubtless been dropped by one of the females. 

 The egg of our species is cylindrical with truncate ends, in colour orange, three and a third millim, 

 (a liMle over \ inch) long, and one and two-thirds millim., broad. 



These eggs may be destroyed as suggested by Dr. Riley, " either by digging and turning them 

 under, or by burning over the dead leaves among which they lie." In the case of trees, it might prove 

 as effectual to encircle the trunk with a ring of pitch or any other suitable substance, so as to prevent 

 the young larva; (which are unable to fly) from ascending. In the case of a hedge, such as the one on 

 which the stick-insects on the Chestervale Property were found, a good plan would be to spread a cloth 

 under the bushes at the time when egg- laying was going on, and gather every morning the dropped 

 eggs and bum them. This would probably be more thorough than the digging under or burning, and 

 would also be less trouble, provided that the hedge was regular and not too extensive. Possibly if the 

 bushes were tapped with a stick at the time of gathering-up, some of the insects themselves would fall 

 and be secured. T. D. A. Cockerell.* 



CINNAMON. 



The Cinnamon-trec (Cinnamomum zeyltwicum) is a native of the East Indies ; it is usually of small 

 size, having leaves with 3 to 5 strong nerves and small yellowish flowers. 



The best kind of Cinnamon Bark comes from Ceylon, where it is grown near Colombo from the 

 sea-coast up to an elevation of 1,500 feet. 



Soil. — A sandy soil is generally preferred, but red and chocolate -coloured soils are also utilised 

 when free from gravel and rock. 



Cultivation. — The seedlings 3 months old are planted out 8 or 10 feet apart. After 2 or 3 years 

 the young trees should be cut down to about 6 inches above ground ; and the " garden" is treated 

 similarly to an oak-coppice in England. 



Harvesting and Curing. — From the stocks or tools, 4 or 5 shoots are allowed to grow. " These 

 shoots usually come to perfection at the age of from eighteen months to two years, when they are be- 

 ginning to turn brown on their surface from the greenish epidermis becoming replaced by the produc- 

 tion of a corky layer of bark. Such shoots, which are commonly from 6 to 10 feet high, and from \ 

 to 2 inches thick, are then cut off by a long sickle-shaped knife, called a catty, stripped of their leaves, 

 and trimmed with a knife, the little pieces which are removed being kept and sold as cinnamon chips. 

 The peeling is then effected by cutting through the bark transversely at distances of about a foot, and 

 by making two opposite or where the branch is thick, three or four longitudinal incisions to connect 

 the transverse ones, and the bark is then readily removed by introducing the peeling knife termed a 

 mama beneath it. The pieces of bark are then placed one within the other, and the compound sticks 

 thus produced are bound together into bundles. These are usually left for about twenty-four hours, 

 when the two external layers of bark are carefully removed by scrapi ng ; for which purpose each quill 

 is placed on a piece of wood of the required thickness. In a few hours the smaller quills are introduced 

 into the larger ones, and in this way congeries of quills are formed, which generally measure about 40 

 inches in length. The bark is then kept one day in the shade after which it is placed on wicker trays 

 and dried in the sun ; and finally it is made up into bundles weighing on an average about 30 lbs. each. 

 Care is taken to fill up each pipe or congeries of quills with the same kind of bark as that which is 

 outside, and as few joints are placed in each pipe as possible. The finest pipes are usually well filled, 

 as the preservation of the odour and flavour is very much assisted by the exclusion of the air." — 

 (Bentley & Trimen.) 



The peeling process should be done during the wettest s easons of the year, when the bark comes 

 off easily. The bark peeled from the middle of the shoot is considered the best kind. A second quality 

 is the bark from the ends of the shoots, and a third from the base. It is advisable to keep these quali- 

 ties separate. 



ARROWROOT. 



Arrowroot is the name given to the starch extracted from the tuberous roots of certain plants. In 

 Jamaica, there are two plants used for the purpose, Maranta arundinacea, Canna edulis, which latter is 

 sometimes called " Spanish Arrowroot." 



Maranta belongs to the ginger family and has yellowish-white flowers. Canna is one of the plants 

 often known as " Indian Shot," and has red flowers. 



Soil. — A light loamy soil is the most favourable for these plants. 



Cultivation. — The land should be ploughed or forked. Shoots are taken from the old roots, and 

 planted, during May, in holes about 2 feet apart every way. Weeds must be kept down by hoeing. 



Harvesting. — When the leaves fade, in about a year's time from planting, the roots are dry, and 

 carefully washed. 



Preparation. — The outer skin is removed, and the roots again washed. The roots are then grated, 

 or pounded in wooden mortars, or crushed between rollers. The pulp is put into clear \^ater, and very 

 thoroughly mixed up by stirring. This process separates the starch grains from the fibrous portion 

 which is removed by straining through sieves of progressive fineness. The water containing the starch 

 grains, is allowed to settle, when the water is run off. To obtain the finest article, the washings are 



* The writer will be pleased to examine any insects found injurious to plants, if sent to him at the Institute of 

 Jamaica, Kingston ; and will give any information he can about them. Full particulars of the injury complained of 

 should always be sent with specimens. — T. D. A. C. 



