790 
Supplement to the ''Tropical AgrtcuUnriitfy [May. 1. 1894, 
received the most attention as a fibre plant. 
The fibre was used by the aborigines for nets and 
iishing lines. Some fibre produced in this colony 
was pronounced by the Jurors of the London Inter- 
national Exhibition of 1862 to be only fit for psptr 
making. It must have been crudely prepared, 
as the tree produces a good fibre in many parts 
of the world. Three or four years ago the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture of Queensland sent to Loudon 
some fibre- for report. The fibre 'was roughly 
prepared by boiling, in soda-lye, and rubbing 
with an old sack.' The report wa.s 'good colour, 
moderately soft, but of no great strength, and tit 
only for jute purposes. It would, however, 
probably sell in large quantities, and we would 
estimate the value today at £1:^ to €14 per ton 
in London.' " 
" But," continues Mr. Maiden, " I am afraid 
there is no possible future for hibiscus fibre in 
the world's markets ; the utmost we can expect 
is to satisfy a small local demand. India is the 
home of the hibiscus. The products of different 
species are not always kept separate for trade 
purposes, but the principal hemp-yielding liibis- 
cuses are S. cannabinus, which yields Bombay 
hemp, Ambari hemp, and Decani liemp, and H. 
subdariffa which yields the Eozelle. There are 
other species used as fibre plants. I note certain 
figures in regard to Bombay hemp. From ofB- 
cial records it is stated that the area under 
cultivation in the Bombay Presidency was in 
1885-6, 53,488 acres; in 1886-7, 87,957 acres: 
and in 1887-8, 715,88 acres. This refers to one 
species, to one presidency, where labour of the 
cheapest kind, well accustomed to this sort of 
work is employed. 
A sample of the young bark of Cassia auriailata 
(Sinhalese, ranaward) was found to contain about 
11'9 per cent of tannin; bark from the thicker 
branches contained as much as 20'1 per cent. It 
is evident from this that in the analysis of vege- 
table economic products great importance is to be 
attached to maturity of the sample and the condi- 
tion under which it has been collected and pre- 
served, as a slight difference in the age of the 
sample, or the presence of impurities will make an 
analysis of that sample of little value. 
* * * 
To prevent articles of iron or steel from rusting, 
immerse or wash them, for a few moments, with 
a solution of carbonate of potash or soda. 
* * * 
Kerosine emulsion has beeu found efficacious in 
ridding animals of ticks. 
The native country of C^kus tuberosus (Sin. 
inala) is somewhat doubtful. Besides Ceylon, it 
is cultivated in Java, Amboina, and other islands 
of the Malay Archipelago. Bumphius, in his 
account of the plant, mentions it having been 
recently introduced into Amboina from Java and 
Baly, and further suggests that it probably came 
into the islands from the Malay f^insuU. On 
the other hand he tells u>, that the common name 
employed among the Portuguese for the plant le 
yotte kelinyan or gotte h^lin, probably becaut*e it 
was mucli cultivated on tlio (^oroiuandel CoMt, 
I tb<' iuhabitants of which were known as Kelin 
I or (iuellin. 
L'oleus Bnrbatm, another sijecies found lu 
Ceylon, is said to be cultivated in the Deccan 
for the sake of its fleshy roots which ure picklH 
by the natives. 
I Mr. D. A. Ohiaaiah read an interesting pap<>r 
on " Cattle at the Agricultural Improvement 
Society ; the following are a lew selwtions from 
it :— Feeding shouhl neither follow nor be fol- 
lowed immediately by exercise. A large meal 
given when there i.-; nothing in the f-tomach is 
apt to produce iiu1ige<jtion. The administration 
of food or medicine in n liquid form should be 
carefully done, as much harm may follow from 
careless drenching. If wny attempt be made by 
the animal to cough, tlie liead should be immedi- 
ately let down. Owing to tlie fact that villag»- 
; cattle are allowe<l to roam about at their will. 
j the owners of the animals lose the mauure which 
could otherwise be collected if the animals were 
confined within certuin areas. This manure ra»y 
j go to enrich his cultivated lands and so enable 
him to .«ecure better crops, or it may even be 
turned into money. Where litter is used for 
bedding, care should be taken that it is well 
dried before using. Damp litter may be the 
cause of ailments that develope serious results 
afterwards. 
According to the Melbourne Argus, the firm of 
I Messrs. Clarke & Co., of Elsternwick, Victoria, 
I have succeeded in devising a verj' useful and, at 
the same time, inexpensive calf-feeder. The 
feeder consists of a tube about 15 inches long, at 
one end of which is fixed a strainer, while to the 
other end, which is bent, is attached an india- 
rubber teat. In using the feeder it is only 
necessary to place the bucket of milk on one 
side of a fence, and drop the strainer-fitted end 
into the milk, while the teat end is passed 
through a hole in a fence, and given to the calf, 
which may then be left to suck away at 
pleasure. There is a shield fixed to prevent the 
calf pulling the tube through a fence, and ot 
course there is no possibility of the bucket being 
upset. Under this arrangement the calf feeds 
I in a natural manner, inasmuch ;is the use of the' 
I teat excites salivation, whereas in drinking from 
j a bucket, in the usual way, the calf gulps down 
I a quantity of milk which it cannot readily 
j digest. It is reported that several well-known 
farmers have adopted the feeder after sati-fyids.- 
1 themselves of its utility. 
