March i, 1890.3 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST* 613 
the sand does not adhere to the leaves whilst the 
plant is growing, but is brought about by the indiffer- 
ence of the ryot; or probably they prefer the sand, 
as it adds weight to their produce, in the frame way 
the cotton cultivators have acted. On the new luukah, 
I notice^, and have also mentioned the circumstance 
in my reports, that the tobacco grown here was free 
from dust and sand, because the soil was composed of 
pure silt, there being no fand in the neighbourhood. 
In some parts of Bengal the dust * does undoubtedly 
adhere to the tobacco plants whilst they are growing, 
as the west winds set in earlier. 
3. The proper curing sheds which should be erected 
would be closed on all sides ; this would entirely avoid 
the pand during high winds. I myself am prefectly aware 
of the importance of producing clear pipe tobacco for 
the English market, and should never suggest experi- 
ments iu places where the dirt could not p ssibly be 
avoided. At the Pusa factory it was principally on 
account of the dust that the tobacco realized such in- 
significant prices in the English market. 
JAMAICA OOGWOOD. 
(Zizyphus Qhloroxylon, Oliv.) 
(From the Kew Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information,) 
The cogwood in Jamaica has long been known 
as one of the most valuable timber trees in the Islaud. 
In the early days of sugar and coffee planting cogwood 
was everywhere iu demand for framing for mills and 
for cog-wheels. It was also known as being very 
durable in water. It was a tough, hard, and ponder- 
ous wood, and sought to be used on all occasions where 
strength and durability were required. It is probable, 
owing to the valuable character of the wood, that trees 
of large size became comparatively scarce, and at the 
present time such trees are only to be found iu remote 
districts beyond the reach of roads and railways. Our 
interest at present is not so much connected with the 
value of cogwood as a timber tree but with its bo- 
tanical determination. Although known for so long a 
period it is remarkable that until now the flowers and 
fruit of Jamaica cogwood had not been received in this 
country, consequently the position of the plant in 
botanical classification had been 1 ft in doubt. * * 
From the materiaL received from Mr. Fawcett, 
Professor Oliver has determined the cogwood to be a 
species of Zizyphus, a genus not previously recorded from 
Jamaica. Zizyphus is the Jujube or Lotus genus of 
Bhamnece, and the fruits of several species, such as Z. 
vulgaris and Z. Jujubx, have an agreeable flavour, and 
are commonly eaten. A description of cogwood with 
a plate has been prepared for the Icones Plantarum, 
and by the courtesy of the Bentham Trustees a 
reproduction of the latter is included here with the 
de cription : — 
Zizyphus Chloroxylon, Oliver (in Hook. Io. Plant. PI. 
1862, ived.). An unarmed tree, with wide-spreading 
branches. Leaves alternate, ovate or ovate-elliptical, 
pointed, triple-nerved, the nerves extending to the apex, 
4 to 7 inches long, l§-4 inches wide, quite entire, 
smooth, nerves beneath prominent, petioles J-| inch 
long. 
Cymes many flowered, corymbose, the peduncle short, 
pedicels equalling the flowers. Flower-buds rusty- 
puherulous. Calyx lobes five, spreading, ovate-deltoid, 
bifoveolate, fleshy, conspicuously keeled on the inner 
face. Petals none. Filaments as long as the anther. 
Style three lobed at the top. Fruit subglobose, 
smooth, one seeded, 8 to 10 linos iu diameter. Peri- 
carp crustacrous. Seeds roundish, cotyledons plano- 
convex-. Radicle inferior. — Ceanothus CMoroxolon, Nees 
Syst. La nr. p. 6(3. Lauvus Qkhrom/lon, L. Sp, PI. Ed. 
ii.,p. 528. — Jamaica in the interior mountains, moder- 
ately common. 
There is only one small specimen of the Jamaica 
cogwood in 1 he K>w Museums, and this was obtained 
from the Pans Exhibition, 1855. It is labelled the 
"best wood for mill framing and cogwheels, very dur- 
able in water." Iu this specimen the heart wood ia 
* Not sand. 
developed only to a small extent, occupying in fact 
only the central core about 3 iuches in diameter out 
of a total diame er of about 9 inches. To procure 
serviceable heart wood of the cha acter s ic colour, 
texmre, and weight, it is probable ihe trees must be 
allowed to attain considerable age and size. The value 
of the timber is unquestioned, and in auy system for 
the conservation of forests, and replanting denuded 
areas that may be adopted in Jamaica, the cogwood 
will no doubt receive, as it deserves, special consider- 
ation. So far as can be gathered this valuable tree is 
entirely confinod to Jamaica, 
[It ought to be introduced into Oeylon. — En. y, 
COCONUT COIE FROM LAGOS. 
As may be gathered from the reports published in 
the Kew Bulletin (1888, p. 149, and 1889, p. 69) 
Governor Moloney has organised very ext^n-ive nur- 
series in different parts of the Colony of Lagos for the 
purpose of extending the cultivation of the coconut 
palm. Plantations consisting of 30,000 trees have 
already been established by the Government, whilst 
stedlings iu large quantiti' s are supplied at low rates 
to private persons with th i view of m .king the industry 
as general as possible. In thi s work the recently 
established Botanic Station is actively engaged, as also 
the Government organisations attached to° the Com- 
rnissionerships of the Eastern and Western Dstriets, 
and of Palma. With the view of utilising to the best 
advantage the produce of these coconut plantations, 
when in full bearing, Governor Moloney has recently 
prepared experimentally some samples of coconut fibre 
so that an opitii >n might be obtained as to its value in 
this country. This West African coir was sent to Kew, 
and very_ interesting particulars respecting it are 
contained in the following correspondence: — 
Colonial Office to Royal Gaedenb, Kiiw. 
Downing Street, 2nd February 1889. 
Sib,— I am directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit 
to you a copy of a despatch which he has received 
from tha Governor of Lagos reporting that he had 
despatched a bale of [coconut] coir to Kew. 
2. His Lordship will be much obliged if you will 
kindly furnish him with your opinion on the speci- 
men forwarded. 
I am, &c. 
(Signed) K. H. Meade. 
The Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[Enclosure] 
Goveenob Moloney to Loed Knutsford. 
Government House, Lagos, 23rd December 1888. 
My Loed,— At the Colonial Exhibition of 1886 I was 
given to understand that the natural colour of Lagos 
coir had, in the opinion of brush and mat manufac. 
turers (I may mention Messrs. Treloar, of Ludgate 
Hill;, a special advantage which should command for 
it a ready demand and a comparatively high price, if 
it could be put regularly and in sufficient quantity on 
the English markets. 
2. Accordingly, and in anticipation of the later 
development of a local manufacture for export of coco- 
nut oil, for which I entertain the opinion that the 
present annual crop of fruit offers a sufficent encourage- 
ment, I have had prepared by prison labour in the gaol 
of Lagos a bale of coir weighing 42 lb. 
3. This return represents the vield of 400 coconuts, 
the average present price of which is at the rate of 
2s. 6d. per hundred. 
4. The bale, has been addressed to the Royal Gardens, 
Kew, and sent through the Crown Agents for the 
Colonies. 
5. It is now my duty to request that your Lordship 
wi 1 be good enough to invite the co-operation of the 
Direc'or of th® Royal Gardens and obtain an autho- 
ritative opinion on the specimen forwarded. 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) Alfbed Moloney. 
The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford, a.c.ar.G., 
&o. &c, &c. 
