304 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist. 



and is himself interested in rubber culture. He 

 took me over Messrs Walker and Sons' extensive 

 workshops, where I was especially interested 

 in the various rubber machines in course of con- 

 duction and completed Mr. Michie kindly in- 

 troduced me to Mr Golledge,owner (sic) of one of 

 the largest estates in the island, thus enabling 

 me to see the rubber machines actually at work. 

 Mr. Golledge's estate is at 



GIK1YANAKANDA, 



whence I proceeded by rail to Takura (sic); thence 

 by trap. This estate had the most complete and 

 up-to-date machinery and appliances for rubber 

 manufacturing, and by Mr. Golledge's kindness 

 I was enabled to see the complete processes, from 

 tapping the trees and collecting the latex to 

 packing the dried rubber for export to the Con- 

 tinent. The principal machines required for 

 proper rubber treatment are the washing 

 machine and the coagulating machine. Matters 

 relating to the construction, working, prices, 

 &c, of which I fully investigated, and in a 

 separate report propose to submit suggestions 

 to the Department regarding the obtaining of 

 either full-sized or reduced models of which, 

 for use and demonstration in this country. 



I may here note that while great strides 

 have been made in the matter of culture and 

 preparation of rubber, and in connection with 

 many other important tropical products, I 

 was agreeably surprised to find the Depart- 

 ment's work in tropical Queensland was in 

 many respects as advanced and up to date 

 as I found it there. Of course, in extent, owing 

 to want of labour in field culture, and through 

 want of room, machinery, and financial support, 

 it is on a far smaller scale here. The line of 

 work, also, as was to be expected, in many res- 

 pects materially differed, as the objects aimed 

 for in the experiments varied ; but in many 

 directions similar work, with but slightly differ- 

 ing results, had been simultaneously carried out. 

 In tapping rubber on the estate above-men- 

 tioned, the " Michie-Golledge " knives were, 

 I found, universally used. This knife is a 

 collaborated invention of the two gentlemen 

 above referred to. Many varieties of knives 

 are used in different parts, and some 

 estates use several different kinds. Messrs 

 Walker Sons, and Company have a most 

 complete collection of tapping appliances, in- 

 cluding knives, among which is one — -the "Pask- 

 Holloway " — the collaborated invention of Mr 

 G W Pask, recently of Melbourne, and one of 

 the first to plant rubber in North Queensland 

 (Castilloa, at Stratford, Cairns), and Mr Hollo- 

 way, a well-known and large estate owner and 

 planter in Ceylon. 



The cultivation and production of plantation 

 rubber is, in the opinion of the best authorities 

 in Ceylon, going to become a large and valu- 

 able industry. The industry is receiving the 

 most careful consideration of experts in every 

 branch, and all possible assistance from the 

 Agricultural Department of the Government. 



Space will not permit of my referring in this 

 report to many tropical industries observed in 

 their various aspects and trials and experiments in 

 quired into and noted. I would especially remark, 

 however, that experiments and trials of North 

 Queensland samples of cotton in South India 

 and Ceylon have not been universally successful. 



A new product, called "Cocotine," was noted, 

 manufactured by a simple process at Pondi- 

 cherry from coconut oil, that appeared to me 

 might be of use in this country, where but little 

 use is made of the coconut, and copra as a 

 marketable product is almost prohibitive, owing 

 to the high rates of labour. 



This " Cocotine" is in substance a thickened 

 oil, prepared by having certain chemical ele- 

 ments in the natural oil, which cause it more or 

 less quickly to become rancid, removed or 

 counteracted. Cocotine is largely coming into 

 household use in India and Ceylon as a cook- 

 ing medium, being more satisfactory than any 

 of the ordinary cooking oils, cheaper than most, 

 and materially cheaper than lard or butter. 



I obtained one sample tin, which I submit 

 herewith for the inspection of the Department. 

 I would suggest that it be submitted to the 

 Government Analyst, wibh a view of ascertain- 

 ing the chemical treatment to which it has been 

 submitted or that may be required to make it 

 here, and the probable cost of so doing. A large 

 market exists in the East for this commodity, 

 and, in view of the comparatively high cost of 

 land here, probably a large demand would soon 

 result within the Commonwealth. 



The tins, such as submitted, are^'sold in 

 Ceylon at 45 cents, equal to 7 l-5d, and in South 

 India from 7d to 8d according to distance from 

 cities and cost of transport. 



I found a new variety of tinned milk to be 

 largely taking the place of the old Swiss con- 

 densed milk. The thickened and sweetened 

 condensed milk has a flavour that is disliked by 

 many, also the mixing necessary before use can 

 be made of it — mixture possibly with impure, 

 or, at any rate, unsterilised, liquids, renders it 

 undesirable for many purposes. 



The kind of milk I found to be replacing this 

 milk on the market is known as "sterilised 

 milk,'' and is put up in tins in a manner similar 

 to condensed milk. The " Ideal " is perhaps 

 the most popular, and next to it a brand 

 known as " Dahl's " ; the former is a 

 Swiss, and the latter a Norwegian, pro- 

 duction. Stone and Sons' Diamond Reef 

 Brand (also Norwegian) is being largely used 

 in Ceylon. This milk requires no mixing, and 

 on merely piercing the tin can be poured out 

 and used as it is. It has no peculiar flavour, and 

 is with difficulty distinguished from fresh cow's 

 milk. The price is about the same as for con- 

 densed milk — viz., 5d to 7d per tin, retail, ac- 

 cording to locality. I obtained samples of 'Ideal' 

 and 'Diamond Reef brands, sold respectively at 

 6 2-5d. and 7 l-5d per tin in Ceylon, and which 

 1 submit for the information of the Department, 

 thinking that if not already known (I have never 

 seen or heard of it here) these samples may be of 

 interest and use, in view of the stimulus that is 

 being given to the manufacture of tinned milk 

 in Queensland. 



I also saw and made inquiries concerning 

 various economic plants and trees that would be 

 of value to this country, among them the coco- 

 nut palm that comes into bearing in three years 

 from seed. This is to be found in cultivation by 

 the Maharajah Bobili, of Vizagapatam but I 

 regret I had neither time nor opportunity to 

 obtain plants or seed. — Queensland Agricultural 

 Journal, for April. 



