January z, 1888.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
483 
port trade are insiguificuut ; the latter, in fact, " does 
not amount to the ordinary business of oue company." 
As to the formor, the. consul thinks that there may 
bo room for compel ition, for, if lower retail prices 
were established and goods made regularly obtainable, 
settlers who now import supplies for their own re- 
quirements would then, in all probability, purchase OO 
the spot; and if, in additiou, tho tastes and wants 
of natives were sufficiently considered, a portion of 
tho ivory which now finds its way to the coast, either 
through the hands of Arabs or by direct exportation 
on the part of the chiefs, would undoubtedly be sold 
in the established local European markets. 
Oil Heeds.— Oil seeds grow freely in the lowlands 
of the Makololo country, and, if freights were suffi- 
ciently low and the communication on the River 
Shire' better organised, this export would doubtless 
become a paying one. So far the possibilities of 
Opening up this industry do not appear to have re- 
ceived full attention. 
ladiarubbcr.— Under proper treatment, indiarubber 
also might become a profitable export. It is now 
found in very small quantities only, and indeod can 
ccarcely be considered worthy of mention. This is, 
undoubtedly, owing to the destructive method the 
natives have of extracting the juice. At Mount Zom- 
ba, tho Lalidotphill Florida species were found iu 
plentiful quantities, but now the plant is almost ex- 
terminated. Rubber of this species sold in Africa 
last year for la. tid. per lb. The cultivation of rubber 
by Kuropeaus now appears to attract attention. A 
Ficus deaticus plant ia growing most successfully in 
a private garden, and tho owner tells me he pro- 
poses to propagate exteusively from it. 
Indigo. Indigo grows wild all along the slopes of 
Mount Zomba. It forms a large bush, and is per- 
ennial ; its growth is luxuriant, and its cultivation 
and manufacture might possibly be undertaken with 
advantage. 
Cinchona. — Cinchona has been introduced, and there 
is every prospect that its cultivation will be a suc- 
cess, plants three years old being now 0 feet high. 
It remains to be seen whether tho quality of tho 
hark will justify the planter's investment of capital, 
and whether the state of the market will offer en- 
couragement. A small plantation of 1,000 plants has 
been formed this season at Zomba. 
Stmphanthun.— rStropbanthus (native name, Kombo) 
is a climbing plant, from the seeds or fruit of which 
a strong poison is extracted. It has attracted notice 
in Kuglnud through tho experiments of Professor 
Kraser, to whom the plant was introduced by Mr. 
.T. Buchanan, of Zomba. During the last year over 
1,100 lb. exported from these districts, realised in 
the London maiket 9s por lb. 
The consul gives the following notes which he 
has obtained from Mr. Buchanan in reference to 
this plant: — " Strophantus is considered the most 
powerful poison tho natives possess. It is found at 
a low level, and, as far as I can gather from per- 
sonal observation and native sources, is not to be 
had on the high land. The supplies hitherto obtained 
have been drawn from the right bank of the River 
Shire, below the Murcbison Rapids. There is, ap- 
parently, morn (ban one species, or, at least, variety ; 
the distinguishing feature being a much smaller pod 
and fewer seeds. At present information relative 
to these other varieties is scant. The strophantliiis 
is a strong climhiu? plant, and is always found in 
the vicinity of high trees, on which it supports 
itself. Tho stem varies in diameter, but has an 
average of a few inches. It lies on the ground in 
folds, the branches siippnrtiiu: themselves on the 
nearest trees. The ynung branches have a rod-like 
habit, and are in appear nice not unlike elder. The 
fruit grows in pairs, and has a pecnlur appearance, 
very like a pair <>i immense horns hanging to u 
slender twig. The fruit begins to ripen in duly, 
and lasts till the end of September Judging from 
the few plants I have reared lo re, it would appear 
to he a strong growing plant. The natives nre quite 
ignor ant of its age, or how obi a plant may be bofore 
it boars fruit. Tho native method of preparing the 
poison is very simple. They first clean the seeds of 
their hairy appendages, and then pound them iu a 
mortar until they have reduced them to a pulp. 
A little w;tter is tben added. To Ihe pulp is added 
the bark of a tree containing a gummy substance, 
which helps to keep tho poison on the arrow, in 
event of its striking against a bone: Tho poison 
thus prepared is spread upon the arrow and allowed 
to dry; game wounded by arrows poisoned with stro- 
phantbuj die quickly. The flesh is eaten without 
evil effect. The only precaution taken is to squeeze 
the juice of the baobab bark on the wound made 
by the arrow, and this counteracts the evil effect of 
the poison. Buffalo aud all smaller game arc 
killed by this posion.'' — Cliemist and Druggist, 
AGRICULTURE ON THE CONTINENT OF 
EUROPE. 
{Special Letter.) 
Paris, November 30, 1887. 
Prance is not only sincerely bent on making the 
two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, 
but of doubling the yield of corn per acre as the 
best means of competing with foreign cereals. In 
the latter aim, three plans are open to agriculturists, 
viz., the application of chemical fertilisers, the judi- 
cious preparation of the soil, and the selection of 
good seed. It is impossible that farmers can keep 
their eyes closed to the efficacy of mineral manures 
in augmenting the yield of wheat. The tests are 
within their reach : they can visit the practical success 
of these complimentary agents on well-kuown farms 
or at certain agricultural stations. By iudulging in 
an essay themselves, they will help much to precise 
tho influences of soil, climate, seed, and culture in 
the relative yields obtained, and thus permit of fixing 
the conditions for a wider surface of success. 
Marked interest continues to be taken in the em- 
ployment of dephosphorized scoria) and inso'uble phos- 
phates as compared with superphosphates. The second 
is one-half less dear than the third in point of 
insoluble phosphoric acid, the fertilising body therein. 
A matter not to be overlooked is the importance 
of adding to the soil on which the experiments are 
to be made with a special manure a sufficient quantity 
of other fertilizing substances, iu case the land eloes 
not contain them in the requisite proportions for pro- 
ducing good crops. Scoria?, it should be remembered, 
are the product of steel preparation subjected to tho 
action of a very elevated temperature. A natural 
phosphate found at Ardennes has been subjected to 
an elevated temperature. Like the Scoria; or clinker, 
it also proved that phosphates so calcined are moro 
assimilable by plants. Iu the case of oats the difference 
was as much as 25 per cent . The heat, both in Hie 
oase of tho clinker and the mineral or rock-phosphate, 
has modified favourably the phosphate they contain. 
A-s tho plant can only feed itself by the direct 
action of its roots on the particles of earth they 
immediately touch, the more the manure will be dissemin- 
ated tho greater aro the chances of the rootlets 
reachi.ig it. Theoretically, then a fertil/.er in a state 
of impalpable powder ought to be preferre I to that 
in grains more or less coarse. But iu practice the 
economical view must be remembered, because if jn 
reducing a manure to a state of dust, tho price ia 
tripled by the process the farmer will fall luck on 
thu coarser substances. 
And this is virtually what he does. In the case 
of tho Scoria* even when in small bits, they in duo 
time, crumble into powder oasi.y and spontaneously. 
Tho lime, the iron, and the manganese ttoy contain 
by absorbing water anil re-owdisin/, s»i.u Ue, an.i 
ultimately become dint. Tho Gilchrist cimkers t 
disintegrate on- produce all th- ir tf ets eve* I 
first year. A' Ariimiiivilliers, near Pans, the on 
screened Scoria- have been spread on stable Bta&ttri 
at tho rate of 15ii lb. por cubic yard: this not only 
euriobea the manure heap in phosphoric acid, but 
fixes the odors of decomposition even when ■ 
are dosod with it. Nothing can b» better for adding 
to thu liquid uiauuro tank, and contrary to what 
