202 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Sept. i, 1894. 
TESTS FOR COCONUT AND PALM OIL. 
The following scheme to detect the adulteration of 
these oils with others may be used: — 
First operation. — 20 c. c. of the sample are ,-haken 
for one minute in a graduated tube with 40 c.c. of 
alcohol of 90°, when the oil, deprived of its free 
fatty acids, sinks to the bottom. Alcohol of 85° then 
absorbs a certain quantity of neutral fatty matter •, 
and the oil dissolves 15 to 20 per cent of alcohol. 
The solvent power of the oil diminishes sensibly in 
the presence of insoluble oils, whilst that of the 
alcohol increases in the presence of oils, soluble in 
alcohol of 95°, castor oil, resin oil, <fec , which latter 
can be readily characterised by their physical and 
chemical properties. 
Second operation. — 5 c.c. of coconut oil, previously 
washed with alcohol of 95°, are treated in a gra- 
duated tube with 10 c.c. of absolute alcohol, and the 
mixture placed on the water bath at 30° to 31° C. ; 
it is now shaken for 40 seconds and replaced on 
the waterbath. Pure coconut oil dissolves com- 
pletely under those conditions, whilst contaminated 
with oils insoluble in alcohol, such as earthnut, 
sesame, cottonseed, and maize oils, it does not 
sensibly dissolve, but falls to the bottom of the tube. 
Coconut oil containing 20 per cent of palm oil 
separates, but when the percentage is below this a 
turbid emulsion results. Palm oil is treated in the 
same manner, only with 20 c.c. instead of 10 c.c of 
absolute alcohol. Five c.c. of palm oil containing 
20 per cent and upwards of coconut oil is soluble 
in 15 c.c. of absolute alcohol, whilst under th-se 
circumstances the pure oil forms a turbid emul- 
sion. 
The purity of coconut and palm oil cakes is 
determined by extracting the facts and treating them 
in the manner above described. 
The volatile fatty acids in butter fat may be 
estimated thus : — 
Five grams of filtered dry butter fat is placed in 
a flask of 300 to 350 c.c. capacity, and 2 c c. of 50 
per cent aqueous soda, and 20 c.c of glycerol aided. 
The mixture is then carefully boiled over wire gauze, 
until all the water is expelled, the flask being gently 
rotated the while; the heating is then continued 
with a smaller flame ; in 15 min. a clear soap solution 
is obtained, which after cooling, is mixed with 90 
c.c. of water and 50 c.c. of dilute sulphuric acid 
(50 c.c. of acid per litre), some fragments of pumice 
added, and the mixture distilled until 110 c.c. has 
passed over. The author regards the method as 
quicker and more convenient than the older methods, 
but the test analysis appears to be far from satis- 
factory. 
Baudouin's test for sesame oil in olive oil is applied 
as follows : — 
0 - l gram of sugar is dissolved in a test tube in 
10 c.c. HC1, sp. gr. 1 - 19 20 c c. of the sample of 
olive oil is then added, the whole thoroughly shaken 
for a minute, and allowed to settle. 
If the oil is pure, the acid and oils retain their 
original colour, but if sesame oil is present they are 
both of a decidedly reddish shade. — Chemical Trade 
Journal. 
MARRAM GRASS. 
The following account of the successful planting 
of Marram grass on a large extent of sandhills is 
taken from the Melbourne newspaper, the Leader: — 
" The Marram grass (Psamma arenaria), the seed 
of which was first introduced into the colony of 
Victoria by the Government botanist, Baron von 
Mueller, in 1883 (and by him entrusted to the 
Borough Council of Port Fairy for experiment on the 
barren shifting sand hummocks fronting the coast 
line of Port Fairy), has been proved to be the most 
effective Band stay ever planted. Practical evidence 
of its value can be seen in the 50 miles of sandhills 
extending between Warrnambool and Port Fairy, now 
eclaimed by the Marram plantations, sown under 
the direction of Mr. S. Avery, the park ranger. So 
complete has been the reclamation of the and.- that, 
where a few years ago not a sign of vegetation was 
j to be seen, there now exists a succuleut grass, eagerly 
I devoured by cattle, and growing to the height of J 
feet. Murrain grass is practically indestructible- 
burning, cutting, or eating off only makes it thrive 
— whilst, in exposed, shifting sand, it propagates 
a* sureiy as in the most sheltered position. The 
grass for transplanting has bten supplied by the 
1'ort Fairy Borough Council, not only to the Govern- 
ments of Victoria and New South Wales, tut to 
numerous municipal bodies and private individuals 
in all the Australian colonies, New Zealand, and 
Tasmania, and in no siugle instance has it failed to 
thrive. The grass is supplied at the actual cost of 
digging, packing, and carting to the wharf or railway 
station, i ort Fairy, which does not exceed 2js per ton. 
The grass is planted in rows, at a distance of 0 feet 
apart, the s>paco between the plants at least 2 feet, 
'lhe depth to which each plant is put into the sand 
depends upon the nature of the sand. If iu sand 
not likely to drift for two or three months, 9 inches 
is deep enough ; but, if very loose and shifting, the 
grass saould be placed from 12 to 15 inches deep. 
A " plant " consists of as much grass as a iuan can 
conveniently hold in his hand, and care is taken to 
have the roots regular. The By stem adopted in plant- 
ing is for one tuau to dig the hole, and another 
puts in the "plant," and well treads round the aaine. 
After 12 mouths' growth, the plants are fit for 
thinning out and transplanting. Cattle are not 
allowed to graze on the grass until the roots become 
throughly established. It takes 3,630 " plants " to 
the acre, and there are about 2,800 " plants " to the 
ton; thus, 1 ton 6 cwt. covers one acre.. The mobt 
favourable time for planting is from the 1st May 
to the end of July. The grass retains its vitality, 
and strikes root after being out of its sand bed fur 
three mouths or more. In a report upon the g azing 
capabilities of the grass, furnished to Baron von 
Mueller by Mr. Avery, from 1'ort Fairy, under dale 
the 18th inst., he says — " I generally put the cuttle 
into the Marram grass enclosure after the first rains 
we get in April, and then allow them to graze there 
until the season begins to get loo dry, when they 
are taken out and kept off till next season. I have 
been able to keep them in longer this season on 
account of the late rains we have had. During the 
last season, I have had about 100 head of cattle 
grazing on about 103 acres of Marram grass for six 
months, and the cattle kept iu fair condition during 
that time. There seems to be some doubt in the 
minds of a great many persons, who have heard 
about the Marram grass, that it is of no use as 
fodder; bat I can assure you that the cattle at 
Port Fairy thrive well on it, and, if it was not for 
the grass "during the winter months, the tesidents' 
cattle wou d fare badly. I am of opinion that it 
would make a splendid ensilage " Many hundreds of 
acres of the valuable potato lands bordering the 
westeru coast of Victoria have already been saved 
from destruction by this valuable grass; and the 
grateful testimony of the farmer is, that if Baron 
von AJueller had conferred no other benefit on the 
colony than this alone, out of all his other good 
works, he would deserve to live in grateful remem- 
brance as a great public benefactor." Amongst the 
latest applications for plants of this grass are several 
from India and Africa." — Journal of the Society of 
Arts. 
- ♦ 
Honet is beginning to figure more largely in ths 
list of Auitralian exports to this country, and the 
attention given to apiculture is evident from the 
number of announcements concerning bees to be 
met with in the colonial papers. The following is 
a typical announcement from a Victorian specialist: — 
" Do you know that I have for sale beautiful Italian 
golden queens, some of them yellow to the tip ? They 
hava beea bred for business, are consequently good 
honey gatherers, and quiet to handle. Bees in full 
colonies, orjnucleus ' — Gardeners' Chronicle. 
