N6V. J, 1893.J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
293 
like a moist, nearly white aniorijhous jjowder ; 
but under the microscope its structure was 
revealed to he a nia>.s of clear, but very minute, 
prismatic crystals. This is the cocaine hydro- 
chlorate, now used as a local anfesthetif. 
Another sample of sun-dried leaves yielded 
no less than '90 per cent of crude alkaloids ; 
but in this case the varnish-like substance 
obstinately refused to crystallise. 
In order to ascertain the proportions of the 
mineral ingredients removed from the soil by 
a crop of coca leaves, I made an analysis of the 
ash left by incinerating- a portion of the first 
sample of leaves received. 
The sun-dried leaves gave off lO'S per cent of 
moistuie, when dried at 21'2" and when burned 
yielded fully 0 per cent of asli including carbon 
dioxide. 
Analysis of the Ash of Coca Leaves. 
per cent. 
Silica 
... 3-06 
Pero\i<le of iron &c. 
... 3 -38 
Lime 
... 27-86 
Magnesia ... 
8-50 
Sodiuni cliloride 
... 5-74 
Potassium chloride ... 
126 
Potasli 
... 13-94 
Phosphoric acid 
... 16-81 
Sulphuric acid 
4-61 
Carbon dioxide 
... 14-84 
100-00 
COTTON. 
In Ceylon there are two conspicuous kinds of 
cotton-bearing trees, tiie Bomhax 'nialaharkiDn, 
or katu-imbul of the Sinhalese, distinguished by 
its bright red blossoms; and the Eriodciidron 
((iifrorfiiosiim, the Quibal, or kapagaha of 
the Sinhalese, which latter yields the silk cotton, 
oi- kajiok of commerce. The chief useful appli- 
c.'ition of tiiis filire is for the stulHng of mattresses, 
cushions, pillows, &c., the libre being unfitted 
for spinning. Of late it has become an article 
of exjTOrt to Australia. 
A sample of the seeds of this tree was analysed 
by the author to test its value as a manure, 
with the f(jllowing' results: — 
CumposUion of Kapol: Seed. 
Moisture 
*Organic matter 
Mineral matter 
*Containing nitrogen 
Equal to ammonia ... 
Vaiual)le ash soluble in water 
,, ,, ,, acid 
Sand 
per cent. 
, 1.507 
. 75-88 
9-05 
100-00 
3- 38 
4- 10 
1-28 
3 9 
3-87 
In consequence of the establishment of a Cotton 
Spinning and Weaving Factory in Ceylon, the 
(-ultivation of <liH'erent kinds of cotton suitable 
for sjiinning and weaving (various species of 
{/iissi//iiii/ii) lias been undertaken on an experi- 
mental scjile, but, so far as I am aware, Mith 
no very marked success. An interesting "Chemi- 
cal Study of the Cotton Plant.'" has been i)ul lishcd 
by .1. P>olt(in Mclb-yde, C.l'' , assistant chemist 
at the .Agricultural l'"xperiiuent Station of tiie 
rni\cisity of 'I'cnnessee, State Agricultural and 
.Mi'i-li;uii(-.il ("oilege. 
From this pamphlet I 
instructive analy.ses: — 
extract the following 
o 
0<5 
1^ 
Ti Mz: 2 — 'M i~ C -I- i~ 10 
2i i o -.c r-i .0 CI « 
^. CO — . ^ .-^ 
t- o 1^ CO CO o -t « 
po CO CI —1 01 CI 00 CO 
r- 1^ "C 1^ CI 
o ^ 
C2 CI i-^ C -H 01 
QC O 1;- IC GC .-H 
CO CI >^ I'c 1.-^ >h 
Cl CI 
.^rS I O O o; ^ CO CO C5 fC 
.So pco — cocccio-H — 5:cc 
Q \ i-->h.^ ■ ^ ■ ^ • ■ ■ 
o CO -t- o; -* 01 czi uc 
1^ 1^ CI — CI >c — CO 
CI IC -I- ^ 1-5 O CI •* 
O 
- "l^ M f'"' c5 2 o 
AVhole Plant. 
•sis.tpuy 
[•Baimanf) 
CO 
«-o 
0 
0 X Cl Cl -^t Cl 1 0 
0 6: i> to cb 1 0 
0 tc 0 
^ r-l 
-nojuQ 
en- 
C5 
2 c ira 00 35 ao 
■ T' '-^ T" ^' 
g -H i-^ 0 i: i 
c 
0 
0 
0 
•s)ooa 
CI 
Cl 
0 0 LC 05 0 
9 tc CO Cl cc CO 
S, Cl i-^ Cl K 
2 cc 0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
-suia^g 
CO T*H 
0 cn 
-~ CO 
g Lc 0 00 ■* 
g 0 ' on 0 -^*t 
2 cc « 
0 
0 
t—i 
CICcIO CT — — co« 
cc — 1 9 cz; rc 0 Cl C5 
00 Is CO 1?^ I- -H 0 
1 2 " — — 1 
0 
0 
0 
0 
•suoa 
Cl cn 
92 0 
^ X 
- 30 
0 Th t-- -0 0 CO 
<f> 00 ip CO c: CO 
2 r- r— 1 lie CO 00 
2 CO 
0 
0 
6 
0 
•p03t.| 
-j. CO 
0 g: 
1^ CI 
0 ,— CD CO CO 
9 CO Cl ^ »c 
2 0 t»r 00 ■* CO 
2 Cl Cl Cl Cl 
0 
0 
0 
0 
^co 
l;- Cl 
CO rc 
0 
2 r-i ic Cl ".c 
0 CO CO Cl 
2 00 
0 
0 
0 
0 
S 
0) 
g . >=x .w . . 
^ '■ Q -S • SJ • • 
^.Pi -< 0 5 0 
NOTI-:,— "The dilTerence between the calculated 
analysis and the actual analysis is due to tlie 
fact that in the actual analysis young plaiif.« 
were used in which the seed ami lint were not fully 
dcvclope<l. This also accounts for the variati(Ui in 
crude protein, fat, and tibre, for the seed and lint 
coutftin large percentages of lhe.se t-oii-titueni-." 
