November i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
by acids in an apparently unaltered condition. 
Sulphuric acid dissolves it in the cold. Heated 
with nitric acid it rapidly oxidizes, yielding yellow- 
coloured products and a resin soluble in alcohol. 
A solution in spirit is partially precipitated by acet- 
ate of lead. Diluted alcohol appears to separate it 
into two resins ; a soluble one of a yellow colour, and 
an insoluble one of a deep red. Heated with potash 
or soda an odour of citron is evolved. An ethereal 
solution of the resin allowed to evaporate spon- 
taneously deposits a mass of crystals. The crystals 
are of a lighter colour than that of the surrounding 
red rosin examined microscopically they appear as 
crops of acicular prisms radiating from a common 
(ml. re. Bther and other liquids were added with a 
view to remove the crystals from the resin or rice 
r, isu, but hut all the volatile' solvents tried resulted in 
forming a solution of both, and this rendered tho 
separation an insuperable difficulty. 
Besides the resinous and crystalline principles of 
waras, there is a volatile oil, already noticed, albu- 
minous and saccharine matters soluble in water, and 
an amount of ash rarely falling below 5 per cent. 
# * # 
Warns <is (i Dye-Stuff. — A dye-bath was made of 
waras, with solution of alum and sodium and potash- 
sium carbonates, and in the boiling liquor were 
separately immersed pieces of silk, wool, linen and 
cotton. The colour formed on the silk was a 
brilliant orange-brown, of a much superior tint than 
that on the wool, while the linen and cotton were 
of a dull brown, and became fainter when washed. 
The colour being adapted for an animal fabric, as 
silk, more than for vegetable tissues, is another in- 
dication of its alliance to kamala, an article used in 
India and elsewhere essentially as a dye for silk. 
To obtain a more valuable testimony to its artistic 
use Mr. Lawson forwarded a large sample of waras 
to Sir Joseph Hooker, and from him it was sent to 
Mr. Thomas Wardle, the well-known silk dyer, of Leek, 
Staffordshire. Mr. Wardle, made several experiments 
with the dye upon mulberry silk, Tassar silk and 
wool, and reports as follows : — " This substance con- 
tains only a small amount of colouring matter com- 
pared with the vogetable yellow dyes of commerce, 
and no colours can be obtained from it which will 
bear comparison in depth and richness with those 
of kamala, for which, it is stated iu ' Kew Report ' 
for 1880 it is used as a substitute, ami which is 
certainly a very much more valuable dye-stuff. As 
far as my observations have gone waras is inferior to 
kamala in permanence, as regards the action of 
light. Tho colour produced by waras is easily 
turned brown by alkaline solutions, whilst kuniala 
is only slightly reddened. Roth dyes, however, 
resist the action of acids very well. Waras is a 
suitablo dye for silk more than for wool, and it is use- 
less as a dye for cotton. I havo tried it on cotton with 
most of my mordants, as well as without mordant, 
and the result is only a very pale shade of yellow." 
Sir Joseph Hooker, on receiving the specimons of 
China silk dyed with waras by Mr. Wardle, stated 
that thoy showed great delicacy of tint, and he did 
not see why the dye, tho use of which in India from 
an indigenous source appears to have been previously 
unknown should not havo at least a local interest. 
Literary References. — ' British Pharmacopoeia,' 1885, 
p. 217; Hanbury's 'Science Papers,' pp. 73 — 8:1; 
Fliiokigcr ami Hanbury's 'Pharumcographia,' 2nd ed., 
p. 579; Dymork's Matoria Medica of Western India J 
'2nd ed., p. 70S; Watt's ' Dictionary of Boonomio Pro- 
ducts of India ;' Perkin, Journal of the Vlu mica! So- 
ciety, March, 1KS7 ; Jarvein, Journal of the Chemical 
Society, May, lss7 ; Kirkby, Pharmaceutical Journal and 
Transaction*, [8 |, vol. xiv., p. 807 ; Dyor, Pharmaceuti- 
cal-Journal and Transaction*. [31,, vol. xiv., pp. 017 and 
9(59 ; Kluckiger, /'harmaceutical Journal and 'Irantac- 
tioiU, [8], vol xvii., p. 10-29 ; Lawson, 'Report on 
Government Botanical Gardens, Nilgiris,' for 1884— 
86 ; Wardle, 'Report mi W.irna to Kew ; Madras 
Government (Revenue)' 10'JO, 1885, 
— Pharmaceutical Journal, 
AGRICULTURE ON THE CONTINENT <>K 
HI UOFK. 
(Special Letter.) 
Pauis, September ID. 
There is a race of cattle in France, which is 
making most remarkable progress and merits the 
attention of importers — the Chnrulaisu, called sometimes 
the " Nivernais." It is over a century since its 
amelioration has been taken iu hand, and with as- 
tonishing success recalling iu this sense the onward 
march of the Angus in the Lowlands of Scotland. 
The nursery grouud of the Charolaise, or it, may 
bo styled the French Durham, is in and around 
the department of the S e.ne-et-Loire, a part of 
ancient Burguudy. Perhaps the climate, soil, and 
rich herbage have done as much for the race as 
positive selection. The climate is mild, rather humid 
than dry; the soil is fertile, generally a calcareous 
or a sandy clay permeable, and particularly favor- 
able for the growth of first class clovers and grasses; 
the undtilatory character of the land, and the superior 
atlvantages of beiug well watered. The pasturages, 
in point of richness and abundance, yield in nothing 
to those of Normandy. The Charolaise was the race 
of cattle which supplied the butchers of Lyons 
with the fine, rich, juicy moat for which they were 
so long celehrated. 
When Baken«lle, Colling, Tomkiu«, ice., improved 
the Durham and Hereford, or the splendid ovine 
races Dishley, Southdown, kc, what did they dor* 
They ouly introduced the improved breeds into those 
places contiguous to where they had been amelior- 
ated, but above all where climate, quality, and abund- 
ance of herbage existed. 
However, each breed has its place. The race 
Charolaise is also special to the districts of Niver- 
nais and the Cher. It possesses the precious apt- 
itude for easy and economic fatting, as well as for 
work ; and the ameliorations while changing con- 
formation have conserved the animal's rich nature, 
sobriety, rusticity, aptitude for work, and putting up 
of flesh. Under the head of milking qualities much 
is to be desired. There has been a prejudice against 
crossing the Charolaise with the Durham; after the 
second generation the animals display better conform- 
ation, but the new blood has been found to weaken 
the rusticity of the race, injure fecundity, and generally 
dimiuish aptitude for heavy and sustained work. 
It is not the less a fact notwithstanding that, where 
the Charolaise has been crossed with a Durham 
bull, and when meat was only the eud of the stock 
breeder, tho result was satisfactory. 
The Nievre, where the Charolaise also flourishes, 
is one of the ten departmen s of France richest 
in cattle. Yet when Ar'hur Young visited that 
locality iu 1788, it was the most backward part of 
the centre of France. It was then the custom to 
import bulls and cows from Switzerland, but it wis 
only in 1719 that a Charulais farmer named Mathieu 
gave the first impulse to the selection of the breed 
of cattle now so famous. He imparted an impul- 
sion to the rearing of cattle on a great scale to 
supply Lyous with rich juicy beef, for the race put 
up flesh " aud fat with remarkable rapidity. The 
new race spread quickly into the utighb ring d - 
partments, and Led to converting the cold calcareo is 
lands into pasturagos, while raising their value from 
fr. 5 to 20 fr. au acre. Tho Charolaise was foun 1 
to be peculiarly excellent for fattening on pastures, 
and the latter were easily prepared— everywhere that 
the soil wanted hands or its humidity was au ob- 
stacle to lucrative culture. 
Several points of tho original Charolaise remain 
today unchauged, such as the hide which is uni- 
formly white or of a cream shade. The body 
is thick aud cylindrical, reatiug on legs short 
and but little voluiniuous ; tho head it short but 
broad, aud the nostrils well opou. Tbe line oi th • 
back is perfectly straight ; tho lambar regions wid \ 
the buttocks thick and roundod bohiud, while the 
tail is plautod low. By the uative BlMMH ' 
qualities tho Charolaise is admirably predisposed for 
