February i, 1889.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
firmer during the last few days; and it is true that 
the German manufacturers were unable to fully sup- 
ply their wants at the recent sales at Amsterdam, the 
improvement in sulphate may develop itself to an 
even greater extent before 1he lapse of many weeks. 
— Oil, Paint and Drug Reporter. 
LARD AND COCONUT OIL. 
By Alkked fl. Allen. 
I am induced to make this communication, without 
waiting for a meeting of the Society of Public Ana- 
lysts, on account of the very active interest now 
attaching to lard adulteration. In the last edition 
of my "Commercial Organic Analysis" (vol. ii., page- 
142), the assertion is made that "coconut nil has ' ten 
employo'l for adulterating lard, " but I am unable fo 
trace the authority on which I mado the staleuieut. 
Personally, I never found, nor, indeed, looked for, 
coconut oil in lard uutil quite recently, as I have 
regarded the peculiar ordor or flavor of coconut oil 
as an inseparable barrier to its unacknowlodged use. 
This difficulty is now surmounted. A few weeks since 
I received a sample of lard for exainiuation under 
the Sale of Pood and Drugs Act, which, on Analysis, 
gavo the following results: 
Water 0.86 per cent 
Indicated plummet gravity at 99" C 8666 
Iodiue absorption 37*4 per cent 
Nitrate of silver test negative 
These results were so extraordinary that I at once 
suspected the presence of ooconut oil, and this 
suspicion was fully confirmed by the following ad- 
ditional data : — 
On original fat: 
KHO required, for saponification 21*15 p. c. 
=Saponification equivalent 265.2 
Volume of N-10 alkali required by the distillate from 
2'5 grins, bv the lleichort-Wolluy process 3 - 3 c.c. 
On separated fatty acids : 
Mean combining weight 253 , 04 
Volume of N-10 alkali required by 
didillate from 5 grnis 3'5 c.c, 
Plu-nmet gravity at 99° 9-8 100 
Iodine absorption 12.5 p. c. 
The volatile-acids obtained by the Reichert-Wollny 
process contained a notable proportion of sold acids 
of sparing solubility in water, and had the character- 
istic odor of the distillate from coconut oil. I 
certified the sample to contain 33 per cent of the 
adulterant. 
I' i l evidont that the very characters which render 
ii difficult to detect and determine cocouut oil in 
butter suffice to make its detection and determina- 
tion in lard, even in presenco of cottonseed oil and 
tallow, a certain and fairly simple matter. This will 
be evident from au inspection of the following figures : 
t hrigiual fat : Cocouut 
Lard. Oil. 
Plummet gravity at 99" 
0 -KbO to -861 -80S to -874 
Iodine absorption 55 to "61 9 
Saponification equiva- 
lent -286 to -292 -209 to *228 
Volumo of N-lO alkali 
required by distillate 
from 6 grins 0 - 3 7"0 
Separated fnttynoids: 
1'lnrnmet gravity" at 90° 
O -838 to -H40 S 1 1 
Iodine ah»orption 01 to '84 15*01 
Moan combining weight 27H 200 
Tim most accurate determination n f tho ooconut 
oil in obtainable from the saponification equivalent, 
an this estimation U practically nnatfeetod by the 
prmWIl 'f rotton-seod oil or tallow. Taking tho 
average saponification equivalent of lard at 889, and 
that of coconut oil at 219, there is a difference of 
70. and henoo every 0 70 of fall iu the squivalout 
below 289 iudioatea the probable pretence of 1 per 
cent of the adulterant. Comparatively small propir- 
tions of coconut oil in lard can be detected and safely 
certified. 
Iu conclusion, I may add that some time since, I 
received very pressing inquiries from America as to 
where coconut stearin could be obtained, but was 
compelled to roply that it was not now in the market. 
Some months ago I met with a butter, which was 
undoubtedly adulterated with coconut oil. — Oil, Paint 
and Drug Reporter. 
CANES AND STICKS USED IN THE MANU- 
FACTURE OF WALKING STICKS, 
UMBRELLA HANDLES, &c. 
Br J. R. Jackson, A. L. S. 
Coffee. — These sticks are the produce of the or- 
>!i:nry or Arabian coffee-tree (Coffea Arabicd), and 
are brought here from the West Indies. They are 
very hard and heavy, with a light-coloured bark, 
and have but little to recommend them. 
Ebony. — Several kinds of ebony are known in tho 
trade as Ceylon, Macassar, and flowered ebony. The 
two former are the produce of Diospyros ebenum, 
and the latter of a totally different plant, namely, 
Brya ebenus. The first is a native of Ceylon and India, 
and furnishes the best true ebony, while the second 
is a small tree, native of the West Indies, and is 
sometimes known as green ebony and cocus-wood, so 
much used for making flutes. The ebonies furnish 
very choice sticks, which are cut from the solid wood. 
Eucalyptus. — This, as its name implies, is the pro- 
duce of Eucalyptus Globulus, better known, perhaps, 
as the blue gum. It is a native of Australia, but 
has been introduced into many other parts of the 
world. The supply for the stick trade comes from 
Algeria. 
Furze, sometimes also known as Whin or Gorsc 
(Ulex europeus). — The stems of this common British 
plant are, as is well known, very irregular iu their 
growth. AVhen they are straightened and properly 
dressed, however, they make extremely pretty walking 
and umbrella sticks, and are in great demand. 
Myall Wood (Acacia homolophylia) . — A leguminous 
tree of Australia, the violet-sceuted wood of which 
is well known and has been much used of late iu 
the manufacture of pipes. The sticks are not polished 
so as to preserve the scent. 
Nana Canes. — This name has been giveu to the 
hollow reed-like stems of Arundo donax, the rhizomos 
of which form excellent handles for umbrellas and 
sunshades. They are imported from Algeria. 
Oak (Quwclls Robur). — Tho sapliugs and branches 
of this well-known British tree are much used for 
walking sticks, and are always in demand. Under 
tho uame of Brazilian oak, a stick that has met. with 
a very large demand has been known in the m .rket 
for some few years. It is corrugated longitudinally, 
and kuotted throughout, the knots being especially 
thick near the knob. Though this stick is a great 
favourite, its botanical origin at present is obscure. 
It i; imported from Bahia, and is sometimes known 
also as C ylon vine. 
Qrtinya. — The orange sticks, which are imported 
chiefly from Algeria, are probably the produce of 
other allied species besides that of the common orange 
(Citrus auraiitium). The bark of the orange, when 
dressed and polished, has a bright, greenNh colour, 
with white streaks, and makes extremely pretty sticks, 
for which there is a constant demand. 
Oraiu/o, Black. — This is a distinct product from the 
foregoing, and is not furnished by any species of 
Citrus, but by the common broom (Cylisus seoparilis). 
The bark has somewhat of the orange marking, hut 
its colour is nearly black, as its trade name indiemtes. 
It is imported from algeria. 
I'Mmyru. — Theso sticks ore cut from the solid wood 
of the palmyra palm of India (Borassus jtab. I> • ''■ 
Two varieties are knowu, black and red, the one with 
intense blaok lines, the other with red. The wood 
is imported from India. [Tho red must bo coconut 
wood?-Eo. T.A.I 
