August 1, 1893.] Supplement to the Tropical A gricuUurisi J* 
141 
operator should now cut away leaves and spines, 
if present, at and near to the point on the stock 
above indicated, and then with a sharp thin 
bladed knife, cut out of both stock and scion a 
longitudinal slice, from 2 inches to inclies 
or even S inches long, gradually deepening, about 
the middle of each cut, to near the pitli or half- 
diameter, at the same time taking care that the 
cuts may be so straight and in width, at least, 
equal, so as to readily allow their surfaces to 
meet without resorting to too much force. So 
important is it that the cuts on both stock and 
scion should be, at least, of the same width that, 
theoretically the corresponding inner or lower 
edges of their barks should, when opposed, come 
into perfect contact ; and with tlie beginner it 
will be as well for him to consider this as beingi 
absolutely essential to success. Having thusi 
fitted stock and scion, they should now be bound 
together with tlireads of cotton or worsted, or with 
shreds of calico or bast fibre. The tying material 
must not be drawn so tightly as to either cut into 
or bruise the bark, tiie object being merely to keep 
the edges of the wounds in contact. In addition 
to such tying, it is nearly always necessary to 
wrap the wounds with shreds of calico, previous- 
ly saturated with a solution of wax, oil, etc., 
purposely to keep out rain as well as to exclude 
desiccating air. 
Procure equal weights of bees wax and com- 
mon resin. To a quarter of a pound of each add 
a tea-.spoonful of coconut oil, or even animal 
fat; put into a vessel and boil. This must be 
done close to the tree on which tiie operation is 
being performed. The shreds of calico should be 
oue inch wide, and long enough to thoroughly 
wrap the wound. When ready take hold witli 
the hands of both ends and let all but the ends 
sink into the boiling wax until saturated, then 
draw it across the edge of the vessel to dislodge 
all excess of wax and allow it to cool until it can 
be touched by a damp finger with impunity. 
This part of the operation is of the utmost import- 
ance, inasmuch, as the application of the waxed 
cloth too hot, will scald the tender bark and 
thereby neutralize all hope of success ; on the 
other hand, if applied too cold it is ' rendered 
unsuitable for the purpose intended. 
When the requisite temperature has been at- 
tained, the waxed shred must be wrapped tightly 
and carefully round the wound, and this com- 
pletes the operation. Xind nature will accomplish 
the rest. It is now only necessary to keep the 
soil in the pot moist ; and to prevent undue 
evaporation, the space between the surface of the 
soil and the top of the pot should be stuifed 
loosely with either moss or hay. If the tree 
sought to be propagated is of moderate size a 
hundred or perhaps two hundred pots might be 
fixed to it at one time. It would cost very liitle 
more to water and otherwise nurse two hundred 
inarched plants than it would oue hundreil. In 
about six or eight weeks after the operation, with 
a view to aid iti weaning, if I may so express 
myself, the scion from the parent tree, a notch 
should be made in the scion, immedintely below 
the point of union, reaching almost to the pith. 
In two weeks thereafter the notcli ought to be 
dt'i-peuud, but not widened through and slightly 
beyonil tiie pith ; and finally in a week or two 
weeks more, if the wouther is moist, the sciou 
should be severed and the new plant taken from 
the tree, shaded from the sun, and for a time 
most carefully nursed. It may be well to state 
that the beginner should not attempt to sever 
the scion from the parent tree unless when its 
leaves are developed and matured. When it is 
evident that the plant is out of all danger, and 
when active growth has set in, the stock, above 
the graft, ."hould be cut back, a piece at a time, 
until finally foreshortened to the upper end of 
the grafted part. 
^ _ 
VEGETATION POISONOUS TO CATTLE. 
In all countries there occur forms of vegeta- 
tion, whether plants, shrubs or trees that 
possess poisonous properties, and which if con- 
sumed by stock may produce fatal results. It 
is a popular belief that cattle like birds are 
endowed with special instincts by nature, by 
which they avoid eating poisonous vegetation 
when met witli under natural conditions, that 
is growing in the field ; but that when such 
poisonous vegetation is cut and fed to stock 
together with other fodder, they either losetlie 
power of discriminating between poisonous and 
non-poisonous vegetation, or trusting in the good 
intentions of man, do not refuse to partake of 
the objectionable fo d. Whatever value may 
be placed upon such belief, it is a fact that 
very seldom is it the case that cattle die from 
eating poisonous vegetation found growing in 
the field, and we have heard of cases where 
animals that would not browse on the foliage 
of a poisonous plant when it was in a liviii" 
aud growing condition, have consumed the same 
after it was cut and thrown upon the grazing 
ground or in the stall. 
In western countries yew and laural are the 
most common causes of death by poi.son, but 
until quite lately we had not lieard of stock in 
Ceylon having died from eating tlie leaves or 
other parts of poisonous plants. Two ca.ses of 
sudden and unaccountable death occurred among 
the cattle kept for slaughter at the Dematagoda 
Slaughter House last month. On examination 
of the grass (Mauritius or water grassj provided 
by a contractor, large quantities of Datura (Sin. 
Attana) leaves were found in the bundles. The 
seeds of this plant contain the alkaloid 
daturine which is used as a narcotic anodyne, 
but which, when given in any quantity produces 
death by poison. The leaves of datura are also 
known to possess poisonous properties, though 
perhaps not so pronounced as in the case of the 
seeds. There is little doubt that the cattle in 
question died by the effects of such poison, though 
direct proof was wanting, for an examination of 
the stomachs failed to show any traces of the 
succulent leaves or stems of the poisonous plant 
mixed up with the half-digested pulpy grass 
tiiat filled them. It is a common deception 
among grass suppliers to conceal the leaves of 
trees among the grass they supply, in order to 
make the bundles of standard size or weight. 
AVliat is suspicious iu the cases referred to is, 
that the leaves of a plant so well known among 
the natives as possessing poisonous projierties 
sliould have been used. It would be interest- 
ing to ircpiire whether a mixed diet of datura 
leaves and water-gruss, though not producing 
