March t, 1888.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
Kick, itC; — It is estimated by the Local Government 
of Burniah and other reliable authorities that tho 
total crop of rice in 1888 available for export will be 
about 2()0,<>0() tons less thaii the previous year. This 
will, no doubt, tend to further enhance the value of 
rice meal in this market, rb the demand for English 
milled is extensive. Today's prices are about Is per 
sack higher than those quoted in our circular of 
November. — Downes $ Cu.'s Annual Circular. 
Kuxlr. — With heavy imports in the Spring of the 
year, the value of Kainit fell to £1 10s per ton, but 
Subsequently improved, and the market now closes 
steady at an advance of 2s to 3s. This article has 
been repeatedly proved to be of great benefit to all 
descriptions of light and sandy soils, as such are in- 
variably found to be deficient in potash. The value nf 
best < [ i i ty , guaranteed 2:1 per cent sulphate of potash, 
is 40s to <l2s per ton, in bags, according to quantity. 
— Downes cj- Oo,'s Aniiual Oivculctr. 
BtJTORPHOSPHATE ok I.ime. — Again this year mineral 
superphosphate has continued to decline in value, and 
has touched an unprecedented!}' low price; the reduction 
has been of great benefit to the agriculturists, but, as 
the price is barely remunerative to the manufacturer, 
it is obvious that the lowest level has now been reached, 
so that the present is a favourable opportunity to purchase 
for spring delivery, of which many consumers are avail- 
ing themselves. \ ery large consignments have been 
mado to the United States, where the demand is en- 
ormous and rapidly increasing, but an advance of Js 
to 3s in freights to America has recently checked ex. 
ports to that quarter ; other foreign markets, however, 
have bought largely, the shipments last year and so 
fnr this season showing a substantial increase; the 
home consumption has also been very extensive. The 
present quotations are for 2(i to 28 per cent. £1 10s 
(Jd to £2 o 3 (id, and for 35 to 37 per cent. £2 10s 0d 
to £2 L8s 6d per ton in bags. — Downes iSf Co.'s Annual 
< 'irmilav. 
Rice.— Touching the nutritious value of various foods 
variously cooked, it may be well just now to point 
out. that one pound of Rice, prepared for the table 
gives 88 per cent of nutriment, and, consequently, 
a relatively proportional ability to labour compared 
with other articles of food. A pound of beef contains 
only 20 per pent of nutriment; yet countless numbers 
strain a point daily to purchase beef, when they could 
get a pound of rice for one-third of the amount, the 
rice, moreover, having three times as much nutriment 
as the pound of beef, making a practical difference 
of BOO pet cent.* There is, also, that additional fact 
to be considered that boiled rice is digested iu abotit 
an hour, roast beof, on the coutrary, requiring three 
and a half. There is meaning, after all. iu the fact 
that two-fifths of the human family live on rice. 
Mutton is ."> per cent more nutritious than beef, plums 
•1 per cent, and grape* 2 per cent. Cod-fish yields only 
21 par cent of nutriment. Contrary to popular ideas, 
apples yield 8 per cent more nutriment than milk. — 
Count nj Paptr. 
1 Do not think the good qualities of rice meal aft a 
flesh-forming food are sufficiently well known among 
farmers. My experience of the meal is highly satis- 
factory- 1 am at the present time feeding two animals 
on a diet of rice meal and barley meal, three pacta 
of the former to one of the latter; and the rapidity 
with which the pigs increase iu bulk, with every ap- 
pearance of sound health, is really surprising. The 
meal is sealed evory time they tire fed, which is three 
times a day ; the mess is then allowed to cool down 
to a suitable temperature, which is easily nM'ortaine I 
by thrusting the finger into it before it is place I in 
the trough for tho animals to consume. I may „,|,1 
that rieo meal, especially iuthfso hard limes, in well 
worthy of tho farmer's consideration.— T. S. .1., 
London I'nprr, 
OlMCHORA. — Notwithstanding that no fewer than 
300,0 0 cinchona trees wore destroyed by a landslip 
in the NDgtri* in June of laM year, an I 80.000 more 
by a hailstorm earlier in tho season, the auhs during 
• I'his statement U astounding ! L'o. 
the year 1880-87 of ordinary and crystalline febri- 
fuge were bettei by 385 pounds than those of tho 
previous twelve months. Yellow and hybrid for red- 
bark cinchona trees were largely Bubstitued during 
the year. The bark of the two former yields quinine, 
and it is the object of Government, by working out 
the red-bark growths, to have in its hands cinchona 
estates which will give quinine and some combina- 
tion of quinine and cinchonidine at altno-t as cheap 
a rate as the febrifuge obtained at present from the: 
red-bark trees. The cost price of the raw material 
used in the factory during tho vear amounted to 
R73.548, while the outturn yielded R113.152. 
Putting the realisations for febrifuge and bark dnring 
the year and the stock in hand at the end of it 
against the working expenditure, there was a proGt 
in favour of tho plantation of £18,461, a much 
less favourable result than was obtained in several 
former years. Commercially, therefore, the year was 
a bad one, but this is counterbalanced by the advan- 
tage gained in the cheapening of this invaluable drug 
which was the principal object of the Government iu 
introducing cinchona cultivation into India. It is not 
expected that this fall in the price of quinine will 
continue. Meanwhile, tha Government have asked the 
Superintendent to keep down expenditure on the 
plantations and to push on the experiments in the 
manufacture of quinine. — Indian 'AgriciHiwritt. 
Government Botanical Gardens, Bangat.ORG. — Of 
the Malta lemon seeds, sent by Dr. Bonavia, 81 vigo- 
rous seedlings were ready for planting out, aud the 
older plants have established themselves kindly in 
ordinary garden soil. Dr. Bonavia hai made experi- 
ments, the results of which establish that adecuc'ion 
of this lemon is an excellent remedy in cases of 
quotidian fever and enlarged spleen. The roots of the 
seedloss Breadfruit do not seem to thrive, and even 
where they have germinated, the growth seems to be 
slow. This is probably owing to the fact that like 
the coconut tree it requires a tropical sea board 
climate, and does not take freely to an inland and 
comparatively dry positiou. On the subject of the 
improvement of exotic and native fruits already in 
cultivation, the report quotes certaiu r< mirks of Col. 
Hill iu which he expresses a d;sire "to see more 
systematic efforts made to improve the peach, apple, 
plum, and grape, by importation from E igland, and 
tho Continent (Italy). I suggested at the last show- 
that prizes should hereafter be given in seeds aud in 
fruit slips, the prize holders being allowed to t ike 
the value out of the Lsl-Bagh. I was at the Horti- 
cultural Show at Madras, and saw, tlutwti the ex- 
ception of crotons and foliage plants, bow dependent 
they were on liaugaloro for nearly everything. Also 
I have witched iho quantities of vegetables and fruits 
(mangoes chiefly) sent from Bangalore to all parts 
of tho Presidency aud to Bombay, which must bring 
in a heap of money into Mysore. Therefore. I th nk, 
the Mysore Government should deal liberally in in- 
creasing tho grant for the new varieties of fruit an i 
seeds." When Mr. Cameron was mining our, from 
England, on the expiry of his leave, he brought out 
with him a sin^ll quantity of six varieties of potatoes 
which has given a good crop within two-and-a-half 
months. The tubers are small, but he is induced to 
believe that they will admirably servo for another 
planting in season. He is surprised to tiuj that al- 
though tho crotoa oil plant (croton tiglium) is in- 
digenous to tho Province, no efforts are bei ig made 
t.i tat end its cultivation, which should prove re- 
munerative, as the oil is in great demand in Europe, 
and fetches a high price. He is willing ti supply 
plants or seeds if any planters woul I care to trv the 
experiment. A ball of I he Ocara rubber, Weighing ail 
OuuceH, was collected from one or two tie • in the 
garden, principally from one whioh wan g o*inij bv 
the si e of th>- channel; but as the milky ju'C* will 
not run freely la winter, tho tapping was inopportune, 
and it bus had to be postponed. Tw > gentlemen in 
the station have be>-n trying to cultivate hop. »•> I 
the experiment has been successful so far— /small 
Ai/ricu/ii'rist, 
