THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Sept. i, 1894. 
VETERINARIANA. 
Hints fob Hobbe-ownbbs. 
It is generally admitted tbat all animals have some 
method peculiar to each class, of expressing their 
feeling* and desirer, and their language of sign* and 
inarticulate sound* forms an interesting stu^y. In 
the cane of the domestics animals, however, and 
especially those that are impressed into the hard 
service of man, it might almost he said tbat it is 
a matter of duty that we shonld learn to understand 
their language. To many, such faithful beasts as the 
horse and oz are mere drudges, devoid of a sense 
of feeling fatigue or pain, and to be controlled only 
by whips and bard sounding words. These ideas 
are generally the result of ignorance of the habits and 
requirements of our animals, — even as regards most 
oommonplsce matters. Take for instance the simple 
ca«e of watering a horse. Many persons who are 
fully aware of the importance of pure water for 
their use, yet often suppose that any water is go d 
enough for their animals, oblivious of the fact that 
foul water eauies many ailments in our horses. 
Intractable skin diseases, uloers «nd sores, indi- 
gestion and loss of condition are often traceable to 
this source. Even mora serious disorders owe their 
origin to an unwho'esome water supply, such as 
fevera and parasitic diseases. In Western India and 
Barman there occurs in the horse a form of fever 
which runs* a long courae. Sometimes as long as 
three months — and invariably terminates fatally. All 
known remedies bave hitherto been tried unsuccess- 
fully. The disease is commonly known in the East as 
as surra (literally, rotten), and is caused by a para- 
site in the blood, tbat often enters the sv»tem through 
the medium of foul drinking water. The rule that 
every owner should enforce is, that the horse should 
be supplied with as pure water as is drunk by his 
master. It may here be mentioned that the quan- 
tity of water required bv a horse is variously es- 
timated : from 6 to 8 gallons a day will Dot be too 
much. An animal should be watered at least four 
times a day. Considering the large amount of water 
concreted by tht akin or kidney of a horse, there should 
bo no stinting in the water-supply. Water, it 
should be remembered, ought to be given before, and 
not after a meal. The stomach of the horse is com- 
paratively small, and the intestines large. The water 
taken by the horse is believed to pass at once into 
the intestines, and hence it would be objectionable 
to water the animal after its meal, as undigested 
partioles of food are likely to be carried into the 
intestines, and I cause indigestion, colio or other dis- 
orders of the bowels. 
The horse finds the greatest difficulty in drinking 
out of a shallow vessel : in fact it would hardly be 
able to drink unless there be a depth of at least 4 
or 5 inches of water. This should be remembered 
by those who have to travel across country, and often 
expect their animals to slake their thirst at shallow 
pools and streams. It is a useful fact to remember that 
a horse generally takes its fill of water in 2J minutes. 
The points I have referred to in connection with so 
simple a matter as watering ahorse, maybe though 
trivial, hut I can asiure my readers that negleoting 
to give due attention to this is often of serious im- 
port. It is as well, therefore, tbat we should remember 
tbem, and it is with that object that I bave written 
these notes, though there are perhaps some wlio may 
find nothing new in what I have said.— W. A. D. S. 
♦ 
TREES IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE. 
For the Southern Province the Provincial Engineer 
fowards a report, from which the following has been 
extracted. It is to be regretted tbat his efforts at 
ingasaman growing has been such a failure, but he 
is quite in error iu his opinion that Pithicoloiium 
will not R r °w near the sea. Some of the 
finest trees in .Oeylon are to be found near an quite 
closo to the sea ; e.g., at MuIUittivu, Negombo, atti- 
cajo». a?l4 many other places. It is surprising that 
mvt# MWQOMbfW not attended ehade tree culture in 
the HambantoU District, where Mr. Meegregor la in 
charge for be has been generally successful at various 
stations in floriculture, audit was preson ed that tbe 
cultivation of shade tree* would bave sncoeeded vri h 
him, if with anybody. — Mr. Onntby't Report for 1898. 
EUCALYPTUS M1CROCORY8 : TALLOW 
WOOD. 
This tree is variously known as " Tallow-wood " 
(owing to Us greasy nature when freshly cut) 
" Turpentine tree," and " Peppermint "—the foliage 
being remarkably rich in volatile oil. Another 
local name applied to it is " red shingy-bark " 
owing to its red fibrous bark. The term merocoryi 
is made up of two Greek words signifying " a little 
helmet " in allusion to the comparatively small cup 
of the flower. 
An Udupussellawa planter writing to the Tropica 
Agriculturist bears testimony to the fact that 
" of all Australian trees introduced into 
Oeylon, the tree which has grown beyond all 
compare is E. Microoorja. A specimen 8 years old" 
be says, " was S ft. 4 inches in girtb, and tall in 
proportion." 
The leaves of E. Microorys yield an 6S6eDtial oil, 
which it is thought may be useful in varoiah-maklog. 
The gum i« in many respects similar to the " Kino" 
of Pterocarpus Maraupiom. 
The timber, eajs Mr. Maiden, the Coofulting 
Botanist to the N. B. Wa'es Government, ia one of 
tbe most valuable the Colony produeea : it is strong 
and durable under and above ground. 
He mentions tbat it would be impossible to 
enumerate tbe various uses to which the timber can 
be put — among others being for naves, felloes, spokes, 
cop, flooring of buildings, decking bridge work in 
general, pickets, turned pillars, for moulding and 
architaves, in fact for all building porpc sea requiring 
durability. 
An ink has been made by steeping chips of 
tallow-wood in water for a day or two (presumably 
in oontact with iron.) 
Against this timber it may be said tbat it is liable 
to attack by white aDts, and tbat it does not hold 
rail? well. On the other hand the charcoal from 
tallow. wood is thought by some to be one of tbe best 
for the smiths, and no timber suffers lets by 
exposure after being cut dowD, 
Tbe tree is generally admitted to give satisfaction 
as a well formed shade tree, so tbat its increased 
propagation in Ceylon is most desirable. 
COMPANIES' MEETINGS. 
AGRICULTURAL COMPANY OF MAURITIUS, 
LIMITED.— LORD 8TANMORE PRESIDING. 
The twenty-first ordinary general meeting of the 
shareholders was held on July 24, at the City 
Terminus Hotel, Cannon Street, Lord Stanmore, 
g.c.m.g., presiding. 
The Manages and Secretary (Mr. Alfred G. Dick) 
read the notice convening the meeting. 
The Chairman then said: Gentlemen, on the 
occasions on which I have presided previously 
at similar meetings to this, it has been my ill- 
fortune almost always to have had something more 
or less unpleasant to say ; either a bad season, a 
hurricane, or a statement of affairs that was un- 
pleasant, and on account of which we were unable to 
recommend any dividend to be divided amongst you. 
I am happy to say that this time I come before you 
under more favourable auspices, and 1 hope that I 
shall not again be regarded as a bird of ill-omen, 
for this year I have announcements to make to you 
of a satisfactory charae<ci\ In the first place, instead 
of having to tell you of a loss on the year's transac- 
tions, I have to announce to you 
A clear profit cf £12,285 18s. 
Last year, reverting from the general finances to 
thoee in connection with the management of tfc 3 ei« 
