THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. i, 1894. 
Bntieh Guiana, by Thos. N. King, Coturoifsary of 
Xaxa'.iOD ; A Few Popular Facie about Diffm-ion, by 
JL ewellyn Jones, En K ineer, Plantation Nonpanel • 
Margarita, a Health Kesort, by Dr. J. F. Chitten- 
den, c.mz.8 , Tiiuidad ; Reflec'ious on the Increase of 
o?'! 11 ,5°P. ul «tions, by 0 E. Macrjamara, Diplomats io 
State Medicine, &o. &c.; Lale Rainfalls, some of tbeir 
Jitrects ; by James Gillespie, Manager, Plantation 
Uoueton ; Steam Husbandly with Open Drainage in 
Demerare, by the Hon. E. O. LuarJ; Some Enemies 
of our Canefield?, by S. R. Ooohran, Maneger, Planta- 
tion Versailles ; Cost of Sugar Production in British 
Ouiana, by R. G. Dunoan, f.b.; Payment by Results in 
.British Guiana, by Peter de Wever, Assistant Se- 
cretary, b.g. Teachers' Association ; The Life His- 
tory of an IndiaD, by the Editor. 
Report* of Society's Meetings, from January to 
June 1894. Jubilee Celebration y 
VANILLA CULTIVATION IN MAURITIUS. 
A correspondent in Mauritius oal's attention to 
the faot that the cultivation of vanilla whieh hag 
hitherto been one of the staple products of the island 
is rapidly diminishing, and will soon be a thing of 
the pist. The oause has been put down to the con- 
tinued robbery of the vaniila estates by the Indian 
immigrants, but the real reason of the discontinu- 
ance is the increasing competition of the vanilla 
grown in Bourbon, which can be produced there at 
muoh cheaper rate owiDg to the soil being more suited 
for its cultivation. The planters alio complain that 
the fluctuation in prioes, varying from 20r. to ICOr. 
per kilo, render the article a very speculative one' 
— Chemist and Druggist. 
BATTERY FOR ELECTRIC BELLS. 
To charge a Leclanche cell, make a strong solution 
of ordinary sal-amoniac, and three parts fill the outer 
jar ; it is advisable never to more than three-quarter 
till the jars, as the salts of the solution have such a 
habit of creeping. In a few hours the cell will be 
ready for use, should you not have time to wait, you 
must take the trouble to pour in, through the little 
glass tobes in the seal, as much of jour solution as 
you can get ; in that case the cell will be in working 
order in a minute or so.— Fiom Work for September. 
PRACTICAL NOTES AND FORMULA. 
Borax and Alkaloips. 
It is not generally known that Borax will precipi- 
tate most of the alkaloids from solution. Precipitation 
at once occurs with cocaine, quinine, and atropine 
salts; more slowly with morphine. Borax behaves 
like an alkali, and its association v.ith alka oidal 
salts should be avoided. Such mixtures are all the 
more dangerous where the precipitation is slow, as in 
the case of morphine. 
A BiiCE Ink for Use on Glass. 
A blue fluid for writing on glass, which is not 
attacked by water, can be made, according to 
Neuesta Erjindunger tend Erfarliungen, as follows : — 
Shellac, bleached, 10 parts ; Venice turpentine, 5 
parts ; oil of turpentine, 15 parts ; indigo, in powder, 
5 parts. Mix the shellac, turpentine, and oil of 
turpentine and place in a waterbatb, under gentle 
heat, until solution takes place, and then stir in the 
indigo. — Chemist and Druggist. 
PLANTING AND AGRICULTURE GENERALLY 
IN BRAZIL : 
SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION. 
We had no idea so much attention was given by 
the authorities in Brazil to scientific agriculture 
and connected bianoues; but our eyes have been 
opened by the receipt, lately, of a hand- 
some quar to- volume — admirably illustrated wish 
numerous engravings— embodying the annual Reports 
of ibe Agronomio Institute of the Slate of tat. 
Paulo (brazil), at Campinas, for 1893, prepared by 
by the direoior Dr. Philo. F. W. Dafert, m.a., in 
collaboration with membeis of the Institute. The 
Institute has done us the honor of presenting rum 
with this important volume, atd albeit tbe whole 
is in Portuguese, tbe great value of the contests 
may be judged from the following translation of the 
Index or Contents — 
PBEFACE ; ADHJXIbTBATIVE Bjcpobts. 
I.— AGBICULTOBAL CHFMISTBY, 
1. S'.udjcn the Fodders ot tbe ocuntij 
2. ,, on our Sugar Caues. 
3. „ on Coflee. 
4. On the Soils of the State »i L aualyaes. 
5. On the Preservation of Animal Manures in a 
ropical ciimate. 
II.— Agbicultuek. 
0. The local price of agricultural productions. 
7. Experiments in cultivation. 
8. Reports on la Fazenda de Sao Joao at Piricicaba- 
9. Agiiouliuial Calendar, 
10. Observations on the consolidation of the earth in 
Coffee Plantations. 
III.— Hobticcltdbi. 
11. Some observations on local horticulture. 
12. Application oi artificial manures in the cultiva- 
tion of truit-tree«, vegetables and flowers by Professor 
Paul Wagner. 
IV.— Phytopathology. 
13. Ad f ice to cultivator* on tbe appearar.ee «f 
diseases upon cultivated plants, 
V. — FcTHESTBY. 
14. Note on the acclirrutizition of foreign ooiifers. 
VI.— Viticultcbe. 
15. Analysis of cational wines. 
16. On tbe Phylloxera Va>tatrix of Brazil. 
VII.— Vetebinaby. 
17. Trcitise cn the shoeing of animals. 
VIII.— Analytical Cbf.mistbv. 
18. Analytical obs rratiooB. Dotes of Chloral, 
Apparatus for regula ing the pressure of gas. Filtra- 
tion of sulphides of nickel and of Cobalt. 
IX.— Hygiene. 
19. Oa the value of food substancei. 
20. On the local natural waters. 
X, — Industries. 
21. On the composition ot " Lard-Oil." 
22. On the national Manure". 
XI. — M p.teobology. 
23. Fronts and the Coffee tree. 
24. Meteorological Observations on 1893. 
XII.— Bobal Economics. 
25. Agricultural questions, new theory of lard 
rent. Systems of tropical agriculture. Reform of 
local agriculture. 
XIII,— Fobeign Litebatobe. 
Culture of the Coffee ties in India. 
Improvements in fermentation. 
Do in Sug»r refining. 
List of tlie Staff of the Institute, 
It oan be judged from the above how very ex- 
tensive and importact is the work of the Institute 
and the principal papers are not only written 
with great oare evidently, but have very clear 
engravings of the different produots to set off tbe 
letterprose. Planters in Brazil are, therefore, well 
looked after with the latest infomatron and 
scientific experiments towards improved agriculture. 
