June, 1912.] 



543 



Miscellaneous. 



The fatty acids were examined, with 

 the following results :— 



Per Cent. 

 Specific gravity ... 0-8569 

 Iodine value, per cent. 66-70 

 Titer test 40 , 80°C. 



The crude expressed fat furnished a 

 soap of inferior yellowish-brown colour. 

 After refining the fat wa9 lighter in 

 colour, and gave a fair, dull, greenish- 

 yellow soap. The colour of the fat and 

 of the soap made from it are, however, 

 very poor. 



"The manufacturers stated that the 

 smell of garlic given off by the seeds was 

 almost intolerable when they were 

 heated before being crushed, and would 

 render it quite impossible to express the 

 fat from these seeds on a large seacle in 

 any oil mill situated in a town. They 

 added that the oil on account of its 

 odour would command only a relatively 

 low price, unless the smell could be re- 

 moved by treatment with superheated 

 steam or otherwise. 



" It will be seen from the above results 

 that the fat expressed from these 

 margosa seeds from Ceylon was of poor 

 quality for soap making purposes, chiefly 

 on account of its dark colour and very 

 unpleasant odour. A further examin- 

 ation of the fat is being made! at the 

 Imperial Institute to ascertain whether 

 the odour can be removed by any simple 

 process ; but taking into consideration 

 the fact that some such treatment would 

 always be necessary, and that only a 

 small quantity of seed appears to be 

 available, it seems unlikely that a market 

 can be found in Europe for margosa seed 

 from Ceylon." 



Professor Dunstan, writing to His 

 Excellency the Governor under date 

 February 16, considers that there are 

 good prospects for an export trade in 

 mee kernels (Bassia longifolia). He 

 points out that Indian mowra kernels 

 (Bassis latifolia) realize £11 per ton in 

 the United Kingdom, and mee kernels 

 being richer in oil should fetch £1 to £2 

 in excess of.this price. Two hundred- 

 weights of the kernels have been des- 



patched to the Imperial Institute for 

 technical trials, which are now in 

 progress. 



Coconut Cultivation. 

 Considering the important position to 

 which the coconut industry has attained 

 it is a matter for regret that there are 

 still so many cultivators who cannot 

 see the advantages of a better system of 

 cultivation. With a view to improving, 

 or at least attempting to improve, the 

 scandalously neglected coconut gardens 

 to be found in the villages, the Secret- 

 ary has issued a leaflet in the vernacular, 

 entitled " Hints to the Village Coconut 

 Cultivator," in which the advantages to 

 be gained by greater attention of the 

 trees are set forth, and how chis may 

 be done is explained. Copies are available 

 for free distribution. The following is 

 the English text :— 



One of the commonest mistakes in 

 coconut cultivation is too close planting, 

 You muse not suppose that by putting 

 as many plants as possible on an acre 

 you will increase their produce. Plants 

 want light and air, which they do 

 not get when closely planted. Again, 

 the roots require a certain ground space 

 for their proper development, and from 

 which to obtain their food. To restrict 

 this area means to reduce the food 

 supply. The usual distance for planting 

 coconut is 25 ft. by 25 ft., which gives 

 about 70 trees per acre; but in native 

 gardens they are allowed to grow much 

 closer together, so that from 80 to 100 

 trees are not uncommonly found on one 

 acre. Even 25 ft. by 25 ft. is now con- 

 sidered to be too close, and for the best 

 results 30 ft. by 30 ft. is reckoned the 

 proper distance ; this gives 48 trees per 

 acre. A. small number of well cultivated 

 trees will give a better yield than a large 

 number of trees crowded together on 

 the same area. 



It is of great importance to select good 

 seed for planting in your nurseries. By 

 taking a little trouble in this matter you 

 will gain much. Remember that the 

 seed nut contains the germ of the future 

 tree, and that if your seed nuts are not 

 good, you cannot expect to have robust 



