268 



[March 1908. 



Logwood Seed.— In reply to an applica- 

 tion made for a supply of this seed, the 

 Secretary of the Jamaica Agricultural 

 Society, writing on January 4, says : 

 "All the logwood seed was attacked by a 

 small weevil last year — a very common 

 thing — and I did not get any good enough 

 to send. The logwood is all in blossom 

 now, and I have placed an order for 

 some c eed for you. I shall be able to 

 send it by the month of March or April." 

 The tree is a well-known honey as well 

 as dye producer. 



Indian Varieties of Arecanuts. — The 

 seed nuts, ordered last year, are expect- 

 ed to arrive in a few days. A small 

 surplus will be available in addition to 

 the special requisitions received. 



Saffioicer (Carthamus indicus) and 

 Zanzibar Castor Seed.— A supply of these 

 is on the way out from India. 



Castration of Cattle. —The annual report 

 on the work of castration of cattle con- 

 ducted by the Government Veterinary 

 Department has been printed and 

 circulated. 



Publications. — A Tamil translation of 

 the leaflet on Coconut Stem Disease, un- 

 avoidably delayed, will soon be out, A 

 leaflet on " Transplanting and Manuring 

 in Paddy Cultivation " has been issued 

 since last meeting ; one on " Tobacco 

 Cultivation, Diseases, and Treatment " 

 is now in the hands of the Printer. 



Report on a Ceylon Sample of Eri 

 Cocoons by Professor Dunstan.—" A 

 sample of pierced eri silk cocoons was 

 forwarded for examination. The sample 

 consisted of about 1 oz, of silk cocoons, 

 which varied in length from 1*5 to 

 2"5 inches, and were about 75 inch 

 in diameter. The weight of single 

 pierced cocoons varied from - 3 to 

 0'57 gram ; 28 per cent, were deep 

 reddish brown cocoons, the remainder 

 being white. The cocoons were long, 

 irregular in shape, and pointed at one or 



both ends ; they were soft, of loose 

 texture, and generally pierced. The silk 

 obtained from the white cocoons was 

 usually of normal strength, whereas that 

 from the red variety was weak. The 

 diameter of the double fibre varied from 

 0012 to 0*0018 inch with an average of 

 0*0014 inch, whilst that of the single 

 filaments ranged from O'OOOO to 0-0008 

 inch with an average of 00071 inch. 

 Microscopical examiation showed the 

 fibre to have the characteristic structure 

 of ' wild silk.' These cocoons are of satis- 

 factory duality, and could readily be 

 carded and spun for the manufacture of 

 ' waste ' or ' spun ' silk. Eri cocoons occur 

 promiscuously in two colours, brick red 

 and white. There was great difficulty in 

 bleaching and dyeing the red cocoons, 

 and it Avould therefore be advisable to 

 eliminate these by selection of seed 

 during about six successive rearings. 

 The value of the silk would be consider- 

 ably enhanced if the cocoons were obtain- 

 ed uniformly white. The silk from these 

 eri cocoons could be utilized for mixing 

 with Indian or Chinese Tussah silk, but 

 the market value of the cocoons would 

 vary considerably according to the 

 demand for wild silk fabrics. The 

 present value of the sample submitted 

 was stated by experts to be about Is. per 

 lb. in this country. Cocoons of this type 

 are used principally on the Continent, 

 and are at present in considerable de- 

 mand ; but, owing to the small quantity 

 sent for examination, samples could not 

 have been submitted to European manu- 

 facturers. It is suggested that a larger 

 sample of a few pounds of the cocoons, 

 preferably of the white variety, should 

 be forwarded, so that further inquiries 

 may be made, and the commercial possi- 

 bilities of these eri cocoons definitely 

 determined." [A larger sample has since 

 been forwarded, and a report is awaited,] 



C. DRIEBERG, Secretary. 



March 9th, 1908. 



