March r, 1882.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTUB [ST. 
793 
B 
well, tho time being 20h. 50m. and the cost 10-9 
as. the native method was altogether out of the race, 
the work occupying 51h. 41m. and costing R4-3-8,- 
and the farm-made instrument did the work in about 
twice tlio time and at 50 per cent greater cost than 
the English. 
The experiments with the windmill, one of the 
American Kewanee pattern, show conclusively that 
it cannot compete with the common native dhtnkoli 
worked by hand. In the first place the minimum 
velocity of wind necessary to work the windmill with 
any efficiency is four miles an hour, and the number 
of months during which the average wind velocity in 
the North- West Provinces comes up to tbis is small. 
In the second place the efficiency of the windmill, 
with even u four mile breeze, is less than that of a 
dlnnkoll worked by two men, while its daily cost is 
greater. It should be noted, however, that, the 
windmill was a very small one, its efficiency with a 
6 mile breeze being only about '026 H. P. Possibly, 
a larger mill would give a better comparative result. 
-Englishman. 
INDIAN PLOUGHING EXHIBITIONS, CUDDAPAH 
AND KURNOOL. 
From L. K. Burrows, Esq., Acting Collector of 
Cuddapah, to the Secretary to the Board of Bevonuo, 
dated 12th September 1SS1. 
I have the honor to forward, for tho orders of 
the Hoard, copy of a letter from Superintendent of 
Government farms, proposing to send some men and 
ploughs under the direction of an Agricultural In- 
structor for exhibition in this district. I shall be 
very glad to arrange a series of exhibitions in different 
parts of the district and to invite the principal 
agriculturists to inspect the ploughs and their work. 
>The exhibitions might easily be made very in- 
teresting by putting the best proughs of local make 
in competition with tho Madras ploughs. Cultivation 
,in the neighbourhood of Cuddapah is of a very high 
telass, and I fed sure that if there is any real ad- 
Ivnntago to be gained by using Madras ploughs or 
any implements of a different kind from those now 
in use, tho cultivators about here will not be slow 
[to make the change. I understood from Mr. Robert- 
toon, with whom I consulted personally, that funds 
Iwero available under tho Board's orders for the pur- 
pose in view. 
I From W. R. Robertson, Esq., m.r.a.c, Super- 
intendent, Government Farms. I have estimated the 
■alary of the Instructor at R45 per mensem, which 
with lllo batla will bring up the allowance to that 
•auctioned lor an Agricultural Instructor. We can- 
not oiler less emoluments, for the work is only temp- 
orary ;iud the districts romote and not specially 
favored as regards climate, &c. I have entered in 
the estimate a sum for the biro of cattle; probably 
only a portion will bo required. If the name cattle 
•re used throughout each district, the owners will, 
of course, expect payment when the land of other 
cultivators is being ploughed by means of the cattle. 
Resolution —The Board observe tint the experi- 
ments in Trichinopoly were unsuccessful, but that 
those in liellary, at the eusbah at any rate, were 
of an encouraging nature. The proposed expenditure 
il sanctioned on the understanding that the Collectors 
'Will stop the experiments if not satisfied with their 
Hbgnas. 
FEEDING PROPERTIES OP THE " RE AX A 
LU NUBIANS." 
Read— the following letter from W. R. Robertson, 
E»<|., M.K.A.i., Superintendent, Government Farms, 
to the Secretary to the Board "of Revenue, dated 
Saidapet, 19th August 1881. 
In continuation of my letter, No. 481, of the 14th 
of May last, embodied in the Board's Proceedings, 
No. 966, dated the 2nd June 1881, I regret to have 
to report unfavorably of the seed of the Rtana 
luxurians as a food for stock, not because of the 
grain being innutritious, for this is a point on which 
I can offer no decided opinion, the grain not yet 
having been analysed, but because of the difficulties 
experienced in preparing the grain ss food, and the 
•uuwillinguess of stock to eat the grain when pre- 
pared. The latter perhaps is not an unsurmountable 
difficulty, for stock generally refuse a new kind of 
food when first offered. But the difficulties experi- 
enced in preparing the grain for use as food are, 
I fear, fatal to the prospects of the grain being used 
as such. 
2. I have tried various processes in preparing the 
grain — 
(1.) A quantity of the grain was placed in cold 
water and allowed to soak for 56 hours. At the end 
of this time tho grain was almost as hard as when 
first plfced in water, while it had increased only 
about 10 per cent in volume. 
(2.) Half a measure of the grain was boiled for 
6'j hours. At the end of this time the shell was 
perfectly hard, though the inner portion was soft ; 
still it was quite impossible that the grain could 
be masticated by any animal. After boiling the grain 
measured 6£ ollocks, which was an increase of 62 
per cent. It appeared to be useless to continue the 
boiling process longer. The boiled grain, when cold, 
was offered to several sheep, all of which refused to 
eat it. 
(3.) Half a measure of the grain was placed in a 
stone mortar and was beaten for two hours with a 
heavy pestle, but none of the grain was crushed. 
(4.) Half a measure of the grain was placed in a 
powerful corn-crushing mill. The grain in passing 
through the mill was partly crushed, but only very 
imperfectly, and it was necessary to pass it leven 
times through the mill to get the grain powdered ; 
and this was only a rough coarse powder. This 
powdered grain was offered to a number of sheep, but 
again it was refused, 
3. Under these circumstances, it is not, I think, 
necessary to go to the expense of analysing the grain. 
I enclose a sample, should the Board deem it ne- 
cessary that further trials should be made with the 
grain. 
4. I fear, however, the grain has but little to 
recommend it as a food for stock. Its hard, ffinty 
husk forms fully 30 per cent of the entire grain, 
while the inner portion is tough and waxy, and, I 
should think, very indigestible. Maize has many 
more claims, and thoso of a much stronger character, 
on thoso who are desirous of introducing a better 
food-grain iuto this country either as for d for man 
or beast ; and maizo could bo successfully cultivated 
wherever the lieana tvxuricma could profitably bo grown. 
Resolution— Submitted to Government with a file 
of the previous printed correspondence. Tho Board 
tear that there is little prospect of utilizing the gross 
or the seed derived from this plant. 
MR. ESPEUT, F.L.8., ON CULTIVATION IN 
JAMAICA. 
(Field, 31st December 1881.) 
If any one will contrast the data 1 have given in 
previous letters, which experience is -\,r> day proving 
to bo inside tho results actually obtained in bull cult- 
ivation here, with the Inures :;i\>n en payc tH'.l of 
your issue of tho 1st of October (No. 1,501) of OJfUUje 
