8o6. THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Jon^ i, 1894. 
carbon-compouiids which they oxidise powerfully, the 
necessary energy can be obtained to force evea free 
nitrogen into combinations. 
It is equally conceivable that in the case of the 
legominosae, the symbiotic organism is really more 
of a parasite (it is necessarily a parasite in some 
degree) than is assumed in the third view, and that, 
at the expense of the carbo-hydrates so richly fur- 
nished to it by the host plant, the fungoid organism 
alone supplies the machinery for forcing the nitrogen 
into crmbination, and that when it has stored up 
relatively large qnantities, owing to its activity in 
the incubators — the root-nodules — provided for it by 
its host-plant, and is dimiuishiug in resisting power, 
the latter at length turns round and absorbs the 
stores. 
The chief objection to this view is that the gains 
in total nitrogen seems to be (.reater than would 
be thus explaiued, unless the organisms in the soil 
outside the roots are also fixing free nitrogen. 
Such then, put too shortly as regards the numerous 
experimental facts, are some of the chief ideas 
agitating the scientific world on this question, a 
question which, be it emphatically stated, promises 
to be of more importance to agriculture in the future 
than any legislation as to prices, &c. that we can 
conceive ; for if it turns out that the acquisition of 
free nitrogen by the land, or, what amoun's to the 
same thing, the plants growing on it, can be economi- 
cally promoted, the farmer and forester may h;ive 
the control of sources of real wealth not yet dreamt 
of. Unquestionably there is an enoroious amount of 
careful and very ditlicult experimental work to be done 
before we arrive at the solution of the various vital 
questions raised ; but the astounding results obtained 
dur ng the last decade by a few earnest workers 
promise brilliant results in the future. 
— Nature. H. Mab.'uall Ward. 
CACAO BEETLE. 
Several young trees, recently pruned, were a short 
time since attacked very severely at several points 
by the larvae of a beetle, especially near where the 
cuts had been made. As soon as they were dis- 
covered, I had them searched out from beneath the 
bark, where they had eaten a winding channel about 
the depth of one-eighth of an inch to some three or 
four inches in length. We had not suspected the 
presence of these beetles in the Garden until the 
larvsB were discovered attacking the trees, or we 
should have used the mixture recommended at page 
20 of my work on '•' Cacao " for application to 
wounds. This was afterwards applied to the wounds 
made by the knife when cutting out the larccc, 
and has been quite successful in rapidly healing them 
up, as vi'ell as preventing a successive attempt of 
the beetle to lay its eggs again at the seat of injury. 
Trees afterwards pruned had a coating of the compo- 
sition placed on the surface of each cut, and no attack 
of beetle followed. It would appear, therefore, that 
the beetle readily avails itself of the injury done 
by pruning and lays its eggs, in the cavity formed 
by the drying of the bark at the edge of a wound, 
but if the wound is covered with a composition 
similar or identical with that recommended, there 
need be little fear that the beetle will attack the 
trees at pruniug time. It is both possible and pro- 
bable that these beetles are able to pierce the skin 
or bark of a tree for the purpose of laying eggs ; 
but the known habits of the animal point to the 
fact that it prefers an accidental crevice for the 
purpose rather than perform the work of preparing 
one by i's own exertions. It appears to be clear, 
therefore, that the application of a suitable dressing 
to all wounds, is one which the planter in his own 
interest should always adopt, especially where it is 
known that the beetle is present in some numbers. 
As we had only the larvse, and did not wish to allow 
it to mature for the sake of young trees (which 
were being grown for aa experiment;, we could not 
determine the name of our animal, but in appearance 
the larvBs resembled the form known aa common 
(9 the Longicora class of beetle which l9ug 
I been known ag enemies of the plant. The droBsing 
iused is simply Coal Tar mixed with Yelluw Cliy to 
the consistency of a thick paint. This bboald be 
applied with a paint brush to all wounds on branches 
or stem while still fresh. 
J. H. H. 
fISAL HEMP. 
Some four years ago plants of Ayare ru/ida, 
var. sinalaHa, were introduced to this Colony from 
Florida, and the major portion of these were 
distributed to planters. The plants have grown well 
and have proved that our climate is quite capable 
of produciug a fine class of fibre. A specimen 
manufactured from plants grown at the Gbxdei.s was 
sent to the Chicago Exhibition where it received 
an award, after an examination by Mr. Dod,e. the 
"Fibre Expert," attached to the United States 
Department of Agriculture. 
The plant proves itself <o be superior to anything 
of the kind hitherto cultivated for the purpose ot 
manufacturing a fine class of vegetable fibre, and 
if found profitable, might be rtadily cultivated in 
the various districts of this Island. Although only 
four years old the plants are now giving leases, 
and consequently fibre, over six feet in length, speci- 
mens of wLiich can be Feeu at the Gardens at any 
time, or at the convict Depot, where, on the poorest 
description of soil, it has sncceedcd beyond expect- 
ation. An easy means of decorticating this plant 
and producing clean fibre is as follows: Procure two 
strong hardwood sticks about one inch in diameter, 
and two feet in length, and make them perfectly 
round. Bore into a tree or post at a convenient 
height to the worker, two holes, close together, to 
receive the ends of these sticks, and the apparatus 
is complete. The Operator commences by dividing 
the leaves to be operated upon into strip's from the 
centre of the leaf to the point. These strips he 
places successively oue at a time between the two 
sticks, holdint; the tmsplit or upper portion of leaf 
in the right hand, grasping the two sticks with his 
left and drawing the Itaf with the right hand, the 
epidermis and cellular matter is removed and the 
clean fibre only is left. When the half of the leaf 
is finished, the fibre is tied up in a loose knot to 
be taken in the right hand, aod the lower portion 
of the leaf is treated in the same way as the upper. 
The knot is then untied, the fibre washed in water 
to remove the gum (which would otherwise dis- 
colour it) and then hung up to dry. In this way 
a workman who is "smart' will make 6 to 8 lb. of 
dry fibre per day with less waste than with some 
of the highly-recommended machines. 
In Nicaragua " The Sisal ' is grown at nearly 
every door, and all the rope and hammocks of the 
country are manufactured from the fibre derived 
from its leaves. The leaves are cut a few at a 
time from below upwards until the plant reaches 
six or eight feet of clean stem. Fibre-makiDg to 
the Nicaraguan, seems to be more of a recreation 
than a toil, whole families — men, women and children 
— assisting in the operation. 
I have given the particulars of the process to 
Mr. Meaden of the Convict Depot, and I doubt not 
that in his hands it will have as fair a trial as it 
has already had at the Gardens from which I am 
able to strongly recommend the process as simple, 
effective, and much more economical than many of 
the machines costing £40 or £50 each. Of course 
It is not recommended tbat such a method would 
be practicable except for home use. J. H. H. 
♦ 
India-JRubbeb is said by a German teobnical 
paper to be coming into favour in the Fatherland 
as a covering for houEe HoDra and etairways, in 
place of carpets and floorcloths. A coat of beton 
is applied to the floor, and the rubber, out into 
pieces one metre square, is laid upon it. The 
edges are united by caoutchouc cement, and there- 
afier form one ooatiauous pieoe.— India Bubher 
jQurml, i^ay 8. 
