Feb. 1, 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
517 
Tlie following shew the composition of two 
auiple>i of refuse bone du.st : — 
Aiiah/sM of lief me, Bone Dust. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
Moisture 
5-42 
10-98 
Or'';iuic matter 
8-42 
9 84 
1 I'hosplioric Hciil . . 
8 '48 
1489 
Lime 
14-.32 
20-32 
Oxide of iron anil alumina 
2-52 
Magnesia alkalie'^, carbonic 
1 12-27 
aci<l, &c. ... 
505 
Sand 
55-79 
31-70 
* Containing nitrogen e(jual 
100 00 
100-00 
to ammonia 
-8(} 
1-01 
t Equal to tricalcic pli(js- 
phate 
20-63 
.32-51 
Besiile.s raw bone.s and steamed bones, another 
lione manure calleil degelatinized bones is used 
as manure. This consists of liones from which 
the greater part of the gelatine has been ex- 
tracted by boiling. The residue, after drying, 
is friable and can be easily re<lueed to a fine 
state of division, and is sold as degelatinised 
bone meal. Tin following three analyses of this 
material ai-e given by Mr. W. Ivi>on Macadam : — 
Aiudyves of Deaelatiuizcd Bone Meal. 
(W. J. Macadam.) 
Moisture 
* Organic matter 
Alkaline salts 
Phosphates 
(-'arbonate of lime 
fSilica 
6-52 
15-08 
1- 27 
64-24 
10-65 
2- 24 
9-12 
11-27 
1-06 
63-82 
6- 87 
7- 86 
12-24 
16-18 
-73 
6." -36 
4-62 
-87 
* Containing nitrogen equal 
to ammonia 
100-00 
100-00 
10000 
1-67 
1-82 
1-92 
In this material the phosphates are considerably 
higher, and the nitrogen considerably lower, 
than in other forms of bone dust. 
So long as the su])ply of bones keeps pace with 
the demand as it has done hitherto, bones arc 
likely to remain the cliief and most economical 
source of phosphates for Ceylon Hgrieultuii-t-^. 
(7'o he continued.) 
ARBORICULTL'KE. 
There are some things that the pi5t goQeratioii 
of Vuglo-Iudiaaa understood better than the pre- 
sent, and one of these was arboriculture. It is 
not necessary to adduce many arguments in proof 
of this assertion. Thosa who may entertain any 
doubts ou thi- subject have only to take a glance 
around to convince themselves that what I state is 
correct. Let any one take a long drive or ride 
along the now neglected grand trunk road, and say 
whetlier any finer specimens of trees are to be 
found along our modern roads than are to be met 
with along the grand trunk road. The early pioneers 
of Western civilisation in this land of sun and heat 
thoroughly understood the value of trees to man 
and bea>t. In this they were simply following in 
the footsteps of tlie Mogul conquerors, wlio in their 
luru were following the Eastern proverb, which 
eaya; " Tlaat a tree, dig a. well, aud 50 t<j b«avcij. ' 
, It is not, however, so much the planting of trees 
hat I take objection to in these days, as the 
selection of them for arboricultural purposes. In 
the old days our forefathers very wisely chose such 
trees as the Mongo, the ''Bargad" (Ficu.i Tudico), 
a few other varieties of the great fig family, such 
as the " Peepul, " the ''Gooler" and others: the 
'• Kbimee " Cl/i //i Kali) : the '• Maulseri " (Jfitun- 
.■<oii.iEliririi>: the " 'SLowha. ' (BoJi.^ia hiti/oHoi; the well 
known Tamarind {Tamai i,((h(.f Indicaj, and such like. 
It will be seen that every one of these affords 
magnificent shade ; and, with the exception of the 
" Movvha," are evergreen. In addition to their 
shade-yielding quality, everj- one of them has an 
economic value, and yields a fruit. The natives 
eat the fruit of the Peepul, Bargad and Gooler, 
while birds of all kinds are fond of it. Most of 
these trees are alive with birds of sorts on a hot 
summer's day. The fruit of the Khirnee is not at 
all bad, and is held in great favour by the natives ; 
while that of the Maulseri is also much valued 
by them. Moreover, this tree yields a powerfully- 
scented flower, which is in great demand by the 
natives for peKi/'al and for making into garlands. I 
need not enlarge on the Mango and Tamarind, nor 
about the Mowha, as the fruit of these is well 
known. In addition to these, I would add the .Jack 
Fruit tree (Arfocarpm iiiU<iTiffjliv..s), which is not at 
all used for arboricultural purposes. It is easily 
grown, germinates freely, and affords a fine shade, 
being evergreen, and bears a fruit which commands 
a good price. The " Sheeshum" ihalljfi-rjia Si,..o), is 
a good timber tree, but is not evergreen, nor does 
it give a good shade; but it is now very largely 
used for avenues. 
Turning now to the trees mostly used for arbori- 
cultural purposes, I note the following :— The " Sinis" 
(Albi:xia Leiiheck.) This is a most unsatisfactory 
tree. It is not evergreen, and yields a poor shade. 
Moreover, the wood is spongy, and a strong breeze will 
knock off large branches, while a storm will uproot 
fcores of them. Always after a storm our public 
roads are strewn with Sirris branches torn off. and 
numberless trees uprooted. Yet there seems to be 
a ptncko.Ht for planting this tree along our roads, 
to the exclusion of most others. Its only advan- 
tage is its quick growth, and the delicionsly-scented 
flowers it yields in March and April. Next is the 
Jiilliiii/fonia hoftemi^, known to natives under the 
name of "Per Chameli ' which freely translated 
means '• Giant -Jessamine.'' This also is not suited 
for avenues. It is tall, of pyramidal growth ; yields 
scarcely any shade, and has brittle wood. A strong 
wind even will uproot the oldest tree, as its roots 
do not descend beyond a few feet below the surfa'-e 
of the ground. Why it is planted along our roads 
I have failed to find. Like the Sirris it is of quick 
growth, and bears highly-scented flowers in November. 
It has a very spongy bark, which would, perhaps, 
be useful for corks; hence its old name of 7^(7/ rici/(i(r 
iiuljerosa. Then we have the Neem tree {Mc/ia Azi- 
dirailifti.) This is a very us-rful tree, but it is not 
evergreen, and is not suitable for avenues, yet it 
is largely used for such. At the present time these 
trees are shedding their leaves, and look very un- 
sightly. The Teak ITeetoua /jrandi-^^ . is also much 
used for avenues in some parts. In Upper India 
they are deciduous, and present an unsightly ap- 
pearance when shedding their leaves. As a timber- 
yielding tree it ha< no equal in the world, but as 
an avenue tree it is useless. The ■' Papri ' (Ponnamia 
filalirai, is another tree I frequently see planted 
along roads. It is also deciduous, aud altogether 
ugly and quite unsuited for arboricultural purposes. 
The "Lassora, " (Sal.eadora miy-'-a), I class in the 
same category with the last named. The Sheeshom 
I have already referred to, and I do not recommend 
it for avenues, except in places where nothing else 
w ill grow. 1 he different species of m ocin are quite 
unsuited for arboriculture also. They an.swer very 
well for clumping and fotpst purposes. 
I would, thfrjfore. make the following sn^gestions 
for the improvement of arboriculture :— Nnraeriea 
jhvttld be estahlisheJ at geHftiu c«uUej, \Ylwttv^be 
