373 



Oils and Fats. 



Besides the flowers, the seeds are of considerable use. They contain a fat 

 of butter-like consistency, which serves as a foodstuff. It is called " mowra," and 

 the crude stuff is known as "illipi," and is used by the Europeans largely for 

 making candles, soaps, etc. The wood is very hard and lasting, and is much used 

 for making the wheels of the native bullock carts. — Indian Planting and Gardening. 



[The Malum is Bassia latifolia, and one or two trees are grown at Peradeniya, 

 where the flowers, with their disgusting smell, are very popular as a food 

 Avith the Tamil coolies. Bassia longifolia, the Mi or Ilnppai, is a native of Ceylon, 

 and its somewhat similar flowers are also eaten. The seeds give an oil (mi-tel) used 

 in cooking, and the oil-cake is exported from Jaffna as arappo. — Ed.] 



GROUND-NUTS AS A PROFITABLE (?) INVESTMENT. 



To all those who contemplate growing ground-nuts as a profitable com- 

 mercial investment, I would offer the same salutary advice Punch gives to those 

 about to marry, viz., — Don't. And after reading the following brief account of my 

 recent experience with the product named, I am sure you will be inclined to agree 

 with me :— 



Last July an evil fate induced me to obtain 154 lbs. of seed-nuts. I cleared, 

 burnt off, and dug over 2| acres of chena land for their reception, and in August 

 and September I carefully sowed the nuts, following out closely the instructions 

 contained in vhe Ceylon Agricultural Society's literary productions. The nuts 

 germinated well, and the plants grew amazingly and flourished like the green 

 bay-tree until the nuts began to form underground ; and then the rats discovered 

 them, and came to the conclusion that they were placed there by an all-wise 

 Providence for their special benefit and delectation. In spite of a night watchman, 

 who made the hours of darkness hideous with his shrieks and yells and his rat-a- 

 tat-tats on numerous empty kerosine-tins hung about the clearing, and notwith- 

 standing many bon-fires lighted all around, and the occasional discharge of fire-arms, 

 the rats had a glorious time of it, and appeared to enjoy life quite as well as that 

 gentleman did who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously 

 every day. In February, I harvested what remained of my crop, and gathered 

 into my garner a total of 700 lbs., which, alas ! dried down to 625 lb. by the time it 

 got down to Colombo. These were sold for the handsome figure of Rs. 6 50 per cwt., 

 amounting to a total of Rs. 36*27. 



I append a few figures, which will convince you that I am not likely to 

 go in for the cultivation ot ground-nuts a second time. I may mention that the 

 seed-nuts cost me nothing except the cart hire to estate : — 



To clearing burning-off, digging-over, sowing, and harvesting 2£ 

 acres of ground-nuts, including night-watchman, gunpowder, shot, and 



caps, and transport to Colombo ... ... ... ... ... Rs. 19P08 



By sale of 625 lbs. ground-nuts at Rs. 0*50 per cwt. ... ... Rs. 36*27 



Balance nett loss Rs. 154*81 

 MONKEY-NUT. 



Sabaragamuwa, Ceylon. 



" Monkey-nut " seems to have been unusually unfortunate in his cultivation ; 

 but of course the ground-nut is better adapted lor less wet climates than Sabara- 

 gamuwa.— Ed.] 



