July, 1908.] 



H5 



Miscellaneous, 



The types of machines used by the 

 large manufacturers in the city of Manila 

 and in distilleries iu the provinces 

 are : Savalle Fils (Paris), Revere-Dubois 

 (Bruxelles), Egrot, E. Barbet. 



The alcohol produced by the modern 

 caua is consumed as a beverage almost 

 entirely, but the bulk of all other spirits 

 produced in the Islands after rectifica- 

 tion is used in the manufacture of 

 liquors. 



The following are the principal pro- 

 ducts of the distilleries :— 



A LEAFLET ON ARROWROOT. 



Anisado. 

 Gin. 



Oarbanchel. 



Blackberry brandy. 



Moscatel. 



Vermouth. 



Sherry. 



Rum. 



Punch. 



Cognac. 



Curacao 

 Benedictine. 

 Marasquino. 

 Creme de Menthe. 

 Chartreuse. 

 Tinto Seco. 

 Tinto Dulce. 

 Anis. 



Unrectified alcohol. 

 Rectified alcohol. 



Industrial alcohol. 



Anisado, 60% proof, the common drink, 

 is offered by one of the leading distillers 

 at the wholesale price of P3.00 per 

 arroba of 16 liters ; and gin 85% proof at 

 P5.20 per arroba. Fine rectified alcohol 

 184% proof is being offered at P8.40 per 

 arroba, and an arroba of industrial 

 alcohol 167% proof may be had at P7.30. 



All of the foregoing imitation liquors 

 are inferior to the genuine article im- 

 ported from Europe or America, and are 

 sold at much lower prices. In the favour 

 of the natives anisado is far in the lead, 

 due probably to the pleasant odour and 

 lasting flavour of the anise seed. The 

 essence of the anise is the cheapest and 

 most plentiful in the Orient. The liquor 

 is made by mixing sugar and the essence 

 with rectified alcohol, the proportion of 

 each being a trade secret. Each manu- 

 facturer has his special formula. Anisado 

 is put upon the market in grades which 

 vary from 50% to 75% proof. Large ship- 

 ments are mado from Manila to all pro- 

 vinces, and the business is a most profit- 

 able one for manufacturer and dealer. 



Next in popularity is the domestic gin, 

 a liquor superior to anisado and more 

 expensive, the cost of production being 

 greater, and it is used generally by the 

 better classes. 



The excise tax on alcohol is 20 centavos 

 per proof liter, a modest tax, and one 

 which it has been demonstrated the 

 industry is able to bear. A liter of 

 anisado, sixty proof, paying here 12 

 centavos, would pay in the United 

 States 55 centavos. And compared to 

 Porto Rico the tax collected here is only 

 about one-third,— Manilla Daily Bulle- 

 tin, November, 3, 1907. 

 



By C. Drieberg, 

 Secretary, Ceylon Agricultural Society. 



Introductory. 

 The Superintendent of St. Joseph's 

 estate, Weeraketiya, forwarded on April 

 15 last a sample of West Iudian arrow- 

 root flour for examination and report. 

 The sample was duly submitted to the 

 Government Agricultural Chemist, who 

 reported on May 27 : — " I have examined 

 the sample of arrowroot flour sent with 

 your letter No, 581 of the 24th ultimo 

 and find it to be quite pure." He also 

 furnished an analysis, which it is 

 not necessary to reproduce here. The 

 Superintendent of St. Joseph's, in for- 

 warding the arrowroot, stated that it 

 was prepared by him in a crude way, and 

 asked for instructions as to cultivation 

 and manufacture. Hence the present 

 leaflet, which may be of use to others 

 interested in this product. 



The report of the Agricultural Chemist 

 proves that there is no difficulty in pro- 

 ducing good arrowroot in Ceylon. In 

 fact, this is already being done at quite 

 a number of school gardens (e.g., at 

 Mugurugampola), and in view of this 

 circumstance it seems strange that both 

 West Indian and Queensland arrowroot 

 should have to be imported from abroad. 

 It is to be hoped that the simple instruc- 

 tions which follow will induce culti- 

 vators to take up the preparation of 

 arrowroot, for the local market at least, 

 as at present arrowroot flour is nearly all 

 impo rted. 



West Indian Arrowroot. 



West Indian arrowroot is the product 

 of the rhizomes of Maranta arundinacea 

 (called in Sinhalese " Hulan-kiriya "). 



Soil.— A light loam is the most suitable 

 soil, but other soils will do, except those 

 which are waterlogged or composed of 

 heavy clay, "cabook," or gravel. 



Cultivation. — See that your land is 

 well drained and worked deep. Mark 

 out the land with furrows 6 inches deep 

 and 3 feet apart. Put the young shoots 

 or sections of the rhizomes 12 inches 

 apart in the furrows. Subsequent weed- 

 ing and hoeing between the roots are 

 all that is necessary. Remove the 

 flowers as they appear. April is the 

 best month for planting. 



Crop.— The crop will be ready in from 

 ten to twelve months, by which time the 

 leaves will tend to fall over. Dig up the 

 plant with a fork, cut off the leaves, and 

 wash the rhizomes. About 7 cwt. is a 

 good average return of arrowroot flour, 

 reckoning that the tubers yield 15 per 

 cent, of farina. 



