April i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
863 
Influence of Superficial Desiccation of the Soil 
irroN its Hygroscopic and ThermometriC Relations. 
— Prof. E. YVollny. — L'lic evaporation of water and 
the escape of heat are reduced by superficial drying.— 
Chemical News. 
Utilisation of Certain Articles or Food in Human 
Digestion. — Max Riibner. — The proportion of matter 
assimilated from different kinds of food varies greatly. 
Of the nitrogenous matter in fresh meat and eggs 
only 2'5 to 27 per cent is rejected ; in milk 7 to 
12 per cent; in peas, beans, &c, 10"5 per cent. 
The author maintains that a healthy body can scarcely 
be formed and uphold with vegetable matter alone. — 
Ibid. 
Quantity of Plant-food in the Refuse of Different 
Towns. — Dr. M. Fleischer. — The Groningen compost 
contains on the average : — Nitrogen 0 6, potash 0'24, 
and phosphoric acid 0 5 per cent. The Bremen com- 
post (pail-system) : — Nitrogen 0*52, potash 0'2G, phos- 
phoric acid 0'51. Tlio author taking the value of 
nitrogen at £(>0 per ton, that of potash at £11, aud 
that of phosphoric acid at £15, values the excre- 
mentitious matter of Groningen at £240 per 1,000 in- 
habitants, aud that of Bremen at £150.— Ibid. 
State of Combination of Piiospiieric Acid in the 
morioultubai. Soil. — P. P. 1 leherain and Kayser. — 
The authors mention that phosphoric acid introduced 
into tlio soil in the state of animal chureoal soon 
Bassed into combination with alumina and ferric oxide, 
In cases where the addition of superphosphate was 
found unrcmunerativo, a considerable part of the 
total phosphoric acid was found as calcium phosphate. 
The mud of the Nile was found to contain 230 
grms. phosphoric acid per kilo. If as much as 04 
per cent of phosphoric acid is present in the soil, 
phosphatic manures are useless.— Ibid. 
PruTIS. — The consumption of lumber by legitimate 
enterprise is something enormous, and from published 
statistics wo gathor the following : — To make shoe-pegs 
enough for American nee consumes aunudly, 100,000 
feet of tho best pino are required every year. Last 
and bwt troes take 500,000 cords of birch, b> ecb or 
maple, and the handles of tools, 500,000 more. The 
baking of our brick consumes 2,000,000 cords of wood, 
or what would cover with forest about 50,000 acres 
of land. Telegraph poles already up represent S00.000 
trees, nnd their annual repair consumes about 300,000 
more. The ties of our railroads consume annually thirty 
years' growth of 75,000 acres. Our packing boxes cost 
12,000,000 dols., while the timber used each year in 
making waggons and agricultural implements is valued 
at more than 100,01)0,000 dols.— South American Journal. 
Manuiual Experiments with Phosphoric Acid 
in Different Forms of Combination. — Dr. Fittbogen, 
Prof. Dietrich, F. Oldeuburg, Dr. Birncr.— The authors 
have compared tho mauurial action of superphosphates 
made from Mejillones Guano aud from Lahn phos- 
phorite with precipitated " Kladno-phospbate" (an 
Uuminiu a phosphate) and with iron phosphate. Tho 
proportionate results for grain were : — Mejillones 
superphosphate 32, Lahn do. 12, precipitated phosphate 
8, Kladno-phospbato 9, iron phosphate 10, whilst a 
chock experiment without phosphoric acid gave 9. 
On doubling the doses, the yield was approximately 
doubled in ca»o of tlio Mejillones and the Lahn super- 
phosphate, whilst with precipitated ealoium phos- 
phate, with kladno aud iron phosphate, thero was 
little! difference. Tho authors conclude that in sandy 
soils, such as wero used in their experimental only 
that part of the phosphoric acid winch is soluble in 
water utilized. Plants cannot, by tho moro action of 
their roots, and without tho cooperation of ground 
wu e's containing cirbolie acid, cxtrnol any phos- 
phono acid from tho insoluble phosphates. — Ohemiepl 
A' ids, 
Lands to he Granted in South Africa.— -In 1880 
the total area of lands granted by the Crown in Cape 
Colony was 340,850 acres, while 2,035,588 acres were 
sold. Tho total are of tho Colony is about 131, 711, GOO 
acres, of which 50,000,930 acres still remain unalienated. 
— Colonies and India. 
Manitoba.— Mr. Staveley Hill, M.P., is on a visit 
to Winnipeg, and contemplates a tour through Manitoba 
and the North- West, with the view of laying the 
result of his observations before his constituency in 
West Staffordshire on his return. Two Cabinet Ministers 
Messrs. Atkins and Bowell, were also visiting the capital.' 
A largo number of permanent settlers were arriving! 
New Zealand.— Another very valuable industry is 
likely soon to be established amongst us— the growth 
and manufacture of tobacco. It is proposed to reduce 
the duty on the locally-grown iirticle from 3s. 6d to 
Is. per lb., aud with such a stimulus the lands in 
the Colony known to be suitable to the growth of 
this plant will probably soon be abundautly productive 
—Ibid. 
New Fruits from Canada. -The Liverpool Journal 
of Commerce states that a very interesting consignment 
of fresh fruit— tomatoes, cantaloups, and other kinds 
of melons— has just been landed from the Allot Royal 
Mail steamer Parisian, consigned to Messrs. Woodall 
& Co., fruit merchants, North John Street, Liverpool 
These were shipped under a process newly planted bv 
Mr. G. A. Cochrane, of Montreal. The results are 
stated by the trade to be in every way satisfactory 
and shipments of peaches and other perishable fruits 
are to follow. Mr. Cochrane's patent can be applied 
to a number of other commodities, and it is believed 
to be possible that the trade carried on on in preserved 
all /«<r ine<1 fl " itS " lay COmi3letel y revolutionised. 
The desire for Colonial Possessions is a growing 
feeling among Continental nations. The German papers 
describe the movement in favour of acquiring Colonies 
for Germany as furnishing a prominent electioneering 
cry. An organisation has been formed in that country 
calling itself the " Society of Commercial Geography '' 
and is cngaced in actively circulating papers advising 
voters to withhold their support from any candidate! 
who are not disposed to support measures for securing 
to the German Empire suitable Colonial possessions 
It is difficult to see what measures are to be taken 
for this purpose; but it is to bo hoped that they will 
be of a more commendable character than those adopted 
by France, and that the Germans may be more successful 
in their Colonial undertakings than their neighbours 
have been. — Ibid. 
? OR Paper-making --Earnest efforts are 
to introduce from South America, le maid. 
of the leaves of tho ilex paraguayensis, 
nnged over a fire made with several sorts 
oi aromatic wood, next dried by a namo (which has 
no smoke) of other spues of aromatic wood, then these 
leaves are pounded, afterwards sifted, next pounded, 
then sifted and re-sifted until a very tine powder is 
obtained, which is le mate. When used, it is boiled 
m water for two minutes, may bo boiled seven or 
eight times (if care b« taken never to let the leaves 
cool between each of thoso boilings), and tho Inst do- 
coction will bo tho best. This decoction is a darkish 
liquid, less fragrant than good tea, less bitter than 
colfee, containing the »amo principles as oofjfa and 
may b- used instead of coffee. It produces neither 
Klecpb ssiie-s n,.r palpitations of the In ait. enables the 
drinker to do without food, coots Id. n pound and 
each pound easily famishes • tv .pints of good 
strong mat,'; it doc, not require mnt.—SttOiMuni 
Trad en Journal. 
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