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DYE STUFFS AND TANNING SUBSTANCES. 



KAMALA, A USEFUL DYE STUFF. 

 A recent issue of the "Agricultural Ledger" is devoted to a report on 

 the collection and composition of the dye stuff Kamala (Mallotus philippensis), 

 the writer being the acting Reporter on Economic Products. The use of the 

 kamala in medicine is now almost obsolete, but as a dye stuff it is in favour, 

 though the growth of its use is checked by adulteration. Inquiries have been 

 made from forest officers in all parts of India, and the present report summarises 

 the results and also gives the conclusions of the technical re-earches of Mr. 

 Perkin, of the Yorkshire College, Leeds. The tree is a small evergreen found 

 throughout tropical India, Burma, the Malay Peninsula and the Andamans. 

 The reports from Burma show that Mallotus philippensis is found sparsely in 

 Tharrawaddy, rarely in Prome, sparsely in Bassein, fairly common in the Mu 

 forests, sparingly in the Yaw division, though fairly common in Gangaw, said to 

 be unknown in Minbu, sparingly in Katha, very scarce in the Ruby Mines, not 

 very plentiful in Pyinmana. The tree is more common in Upper than in Lower 

 Burma. The dye, which is produced from the glands of the mature fruit, is 

 estimated to cost at least double in Burma what it does in Northern India. 

 Some divisions in Burma reported that kamala is a useful dye for local 

 purposes, but it is not sufficiently abundant for commercial use, and the price 

 precludes any possibility of an export trade. In India there is evidence every- 

 where that the internal trade in kamala is declining. Annatto is cheaper and 

 produces a brighter colour. Mallotus produces a fast dye, but it is difficult to 

 obtain it unadulterated. The wood is useful as fuel and the bark has been reported 

 to be used for tanning leather in the United Provinces- Some experiments "in 

 Rangoon showed that the bark of an undetermined species of Mallotus produces 1 '^ 

 most satisfactory] tanning extract.— Indian Agriculturist- 



[This tree is rather common in the low-country of Ceylon, and up to 2,500 

 feet, being known to the Sinhalese as Hamparila, to the Tamils as Kapila. The 

 dye is but little used.— Ed. T- A. & Mag. C-A.S-] 



THE BLACK WATTLE. 

 A tree of economic value which I wish to call attention to is the 

 Acacia decurrens or Black Wattle, a tree which is common in many districts 

 throughout the Territory. 



In connection with the Tantalus forest there were planted some twelve or 

 thirteen years ago a lot of six acres of this tree. The location was a rocky one with 

 poor and shallow soil. The grove was included in the portion of the area set 

 apart for the Federal Experiment Station. As the trees were not in a healthy con- 

 dition, Mr. Jared Smith, the Superintendent of the Experiment Station, caused 

 them to be cut this last spring, the bark removed and sold for tanning material 

 and the wood sold. Careful statistics were kept by him of the results obtained 

 from this small area. By his kindness I am able to present such results to this 

 Association, which are as follows : — 



Thirty-six tons of bark were sold at $23*31 per ton, realizing a total 

 amount of $839*44. The six acres yielded 500 first-class fence posts which were used 

 upon the station. These posts, if purchased, would have cost 25 cents a piece, making 

 the value received from posts $125. In addition to the fence posts there were realized 

 88 cords of firewood which was sold at an average of $7"83 per cord, producing a 



