January z, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
479 
and over the neBt in sufficient quantity to saturate 
it. The result was striking. The ants left the garden 
to protect their homo, and for the next few months 
were occupied in other districts building a new 
nest. Again they returned, however, and following 
them to their nest, he treated them as before, and 
with a similar result. They attempted a migration 
to their former nest, but being checkmated in this 
direction, betook themselves to fresh fields and pas- 
tures new. ]!y carefully watching the garden, so as 
to detect the first approach, and by warring against 
the iusects with his mixture in their very home, 
he succeeded in keepiug them at bay, and in reap- 
ing his harvest of fruit and vegetables. 
He found also that crystals of Corrosive Sublimate 
(Bichloride of Mercury) had a most wonderful 
effect on the ants in the dry seasou. At such times, 
sprinkled in or across their track, it maddened the 
insects, which, rushing about, attacked their fellows 
and caused a war of extermination all along the 
line even to the very nest. Sprinkled in the open- 
ings of the Dest, the crystals would naturally have 
a still more marked effect. Coal-tar was also effect- 
ively used to break the course of a track. Neces- 
sarily, constant attention is required, so that re- 
medial steps should he taken before the mischief is 
done. Lc jou vaut la chaadel/e. — Timehri. 
♦ 
A PBOFITABLE SUGAE-PALM. 
The following passage from "Wallace's " Tropical 
Nature " saems worthy of more than a passing notice — 
particularly at this time when every possible attempt 
is being mado to lessen the cost of sugar production 
from the sugar cane, often by means of experiments 
entailing very considerable expense. It seems a good 
opportunity for gome of our wealthy capitalists to at 
least begin experiments with this palm — although no 
immediate returns could be expected. The diminution 
of expense in the cultivation of the palm as against 
sugar cane, would be due not only to tho saving in 
manure and in the cost «f cultivation (as pointed 
out by "Wallace), but also in the fact that elaborate 
and costly machinery would, to a great extent, be 
done away with: — 
The sap which pours out of the cut flower-stalk 
of several species of palm when slightly fermented 
forms palm-wino or toddy, a very agreeable drink; and 
when mixed with various bitter herbs or roots which 
check fermentation, a fair imitation of beer is pro- 
duced. If the same fluid is at once boiled and eva- 
porated it produces a quantity of excellent sugar. 
The Artnga $acchar\fera, or sugar-palm of the Malay 
couutries, is perhaps the most productive of sugar. 
A single tree will continue to p >ur out several quarts 
of sap daily for weekH together, and where the trees 
aro abundant this forms the chief drink and most 
esteemed luxury of the natives. A Dutch chemist, 
Mr. DeVry, who has studied the subject in Java, 
believes that great advantages would accure from the 
cultivation of this tree in place of the sugar-cane. 
According to his experiments it would produce an 
equal qu mtity of snu' ir of go al quality with far less 
labour and expense, because no manure and no cult- 
ivation would be required, and tin 1 la id will never be 
impoverished as it so rapidly becomes by the growth 
of sugar-cane. The reason of this difference is tbftf 
tho whole produce of a caiie-liold is taken off the 
ground, the crushed canes being burnt ; and the soil 
thus becomes exhausted of tho various snlts ami 
minerals which form part of the woody fibre and 
foliage These must In. restored by 1 1 it? application 
of manure, aud this, together with the planting, 
weeding, and necessary cultivation, is very expensive, 
With tho Migar-palm, however, nothing whatever i- 
taken away but the juice it-ell ; the foliage falls on 
tin 1 ground and rot", giving back to it what it had 
taken : an I the w iter and sugar in the jn'ocj being 
almost wholly derived from tho MafboniO Hold nnd 
aqueous vapour of the atmosphere, there i» no im- 
poverishment; slid a plantation of then palms mujr 
be kept up on the same ground for an indefinite 
period. Another most important consideration is, that 
these trees will grow on poor rocky soil and on the 
steep slopes of ravines and hill sides where any or- 
dinary cultivation is impossible, and a great extent 
of fertile land would thus be set free for other pur- 
poses. Yet further, the labour required for such mgar 
plantations as these would be of a light and inter- 
mittent kind, exactly suited to a semi-civilized people 
to whom severo aud long-continued labour is never 
congenial. This combination of advantages appears 
to be so groat, that it seems possible that the sugar 
of the world may in the future be produced from 
what would otherwise be almost waste ground ; and 
it iB to be hoped that tho experiment will soon be 
tried in some of our tropical colonies, more especially 
as au Indian palm, PhtBnix sylvestris, also produces 
abundance of sugar, and might be tried in its native 
country. — Timehri. 
TO DESTROY THE TURNIP FLY. 
To the Editor of the '! Tropical Ayriculiurist." 
December 8th, 1887. 
Sib, — I have groat pleasure in commuuicating to my 
brother cultivators through the medium of your valu- 
able paper, that I, after perusing au article ou the culti- 
vation of turnips in one of the agricultural magazines, 
tried and found that gas lime sown upon turnips, 
before their coming up, is a sure preventive against 
the ravages of tho fly. When gas linn cannot be 
obtained, gas tar reduced with common lime may 
be successfully applied between the lines carefully 
avoiding the plants. I discovered by my own experience 
that a mixture of one part of flour of sulphur with 
about one hundred parts of lime will also produce a 
beneficial effect. 
J. A. GNO RODRIGO, 
Agricultural Instructor. 
POONACK WITH LIME AS MANURE 
FOR TADDY. 
Bandaragama, December 9th, 1887. 
Slit, — I should feel particularly obliged if any corres- 
pondent to your valuable journal, or you, Mr. Editor, 
can give me information as to the use of this substance 
mixed with lime as manure for paddy. I have a large 
quantity of poonac with me, and I make only a little 
use of it, but if information can bo elicited to show 
how it can be applied and what other ingredients 
may be mixed with it to form a compost suitable for 
paddy, it will be of infinite service to many, who now 
like myself, make ouly a little uso of it and pay vast 
sums of money for bone dust, &c. — I am, sir, 
J. A. GNO UODRIGO. 
[Foouac will no doubt be a good manure for paddy ; 
but lia?e should never be mixed with fresh nitrogenous 
manure. The effect of lime ou orgauic manures is 
to hasten decomposition, whereas tho natural rate of 
decomposition is quite rapid enough for tho wants of 
most cultivated plants. — Rd.] 
Kuril in SOUTH Africa. — The farmers of the Albany 
district "re beginning to recognise the soundness of the 
advice given by some of the lecturers at the late Exhibi- 
tion. The other day. consignments of Marie I,oui»e pears 
from that district realised 1 5s. per 1#0 in the Kimbor- 
ley market, while for a large variety of othe r fruit 
prices were obtained which would rejoice the hearts 
of the fruit growers of Kurope, who pay live or ten 
times tho price per acre for the land ou which their 
orchards stain', and are othorwiso taxed much more 
heavily than Capo cultivators. Ever since the opening 
of tho lino to Kimhirlev, oranges have not toil prices 
to the growers far in excess of the rates realised in the 
London market, while lemons huvo beer, realising slnio-t 
the priee of liot-house fruit, and tho demand lor pint - 
apple* ^tho bulk "I which are of very inferior qualiix 
has ouly been limited by tho supply.— Cdvmn n*J 4W<n. 
