May 1, 1895. Supplement to the " 2V( 
'opical Agriculturist." 
779 
we were not fortunate on those occasions, as 
most of the plants died prematurely of over mois- 
ture, produced by the incessant heavy falls of 
rain during the months when they should luxuri- 
antly grow. Notwithstanding this drawback, 
they more than realised our expectation, as we 
paid special attention to drainage and clearing of 
the fields. 
We have tried during the year the cultivation 
of cotton, Garrow-hill variety. The indigenous 
cotton is of better staple, but this variety is of 
better colour and less adherent to the seed ; the 
pods are also larger and longer. The seeds ger- 
minate within a week in a sandy loam, suffici- 
ently drained. The result of our cultivation is 
satisfactory. We may advise the cotton-growers 
to prefer this to any other species. 
It is gratifying to find that the introduction of 
potato, Nainital-variety , in our Experimental Farm 
at Cossipore, has been progressing satisfactorily 
during the past year. The students report that 
in this soil they have succeeded well ; as, with 
manure (bone-dust), the outturn per high a was 65 
maunds. 
The at (ention of the Institution was also en- 
gaged in the introduction of Chinese ginger in the 
soil of Bengal. We cultivated the above during 
the past twelve months on a small scale ; it is 
hoped, considering the results, that the culture 
may turn out a success. We have also attempted 
to establish and successfully grow Chinese pine- 
apples during the year. Eeports on the said cul- 
tivation from the places where the soil and cli- 
mate are best suited to those plants, have assured 
us that their culture might be ventured on with 
satisfactory results. 
We have also carried oil experiments of some 
fodder plants, such as Guinea and Blue grass. 
Their rapid development, luxuriant herbage, nu- 
tritive qualities, and power of withstanding 
drought are the best recommendations for their 
culture. We see that their cultivation is most 
useful, specially in this country where drought is 
very frequent. 
We have grown Arbus leucospermus (sweet- 
koonch). The whiteness of the seeds with black 
eyes and the white flowers of the plants are most 
attractive. The quantity of seeds gathered during 
the year is large. They may be used for medi- 
cinal purposes, as well as the roots. We have also 
raised a quantity of Androvogon muricatus, Khus- 
khus grass. The fragrant roots of this grass are 
useful in many ways in a tropical country. 
In co-operation with the Indian Industrial As- 
sociation we have taken up the cultivation of 
sweet potato, in addition to the crops as enumer- 
ated above, with satisfactory results. The pro- 
cess is so very easy, that less expendit ure and 
trouble bring about a greater outturn than ordi- 
nary poor crops ; and if the swoet'potato be re- 
duced to starch and carried to distant markets, 
the cultivation may result in success. 
It is satisfactory to know that the interchange of 
seeds, pamphlets, &c, during the last session has 
gone on more actively than in any previous year. 
The yearly supplies of seeds have been imported 
during the year in several consignments from 
England, America and Germany for distribution 
to our friends and constituents. With the ex- 
ception of a few, the consignments have giveu us 
ample satisfaction, as no complaint regarding nou- 
germination has reached the Institution during 
the past year. 
For the encouragement of the cultivators a 
quantity of the imported seeds have been giveu 
gratuitously to try with, as in former years. The 
Institution has also continued its active measures 
for the introduction of economic and fibrous 
plants into Bengal by the free distribution of seeds 
both to the suburban and Moffussil cultivators. 
Tne res'iits of some of the experiments were well 
exhibited on the occasion of our last Annual Flower 
Show, adding much to the grandeur of the vege- 
table and economic departments. 
The distribution of fruit-grafts and ornamental 
plants has also gone on very actively throughout 
the country ; and a larger stock is now being 
accumulated to meet further demands. The re- 
sults of our experiments on Boehmeria nivea 
(Rhea) are highly satisfactory. Its cultivation on 
a large scale may be turned, as hoped by the 
Committee, into the chief source of income to the 
Institution and a means to its future main- 
tenance. Here we beg to record our deep sense of 
gratitude to Mr. L. Liotard for his cordial help 
to the Institution in its attempts to extract this 
useful fibre by easy and cheap process, and in 
various other matters of equal or greater im- 
portance. 
We beg also to offer our sincere thanks to 
Bahu Nittyo Gopal Mookerjee, M.A , for his 
deeply interesting us in the matters of sericul- 
ture by practical demonstrations. He have taken 
up the subject under our special consideration 
ever since the occasion of the last Annual Flower 
Show, and, most probably, we will introduce it 
as a part of the work of th» Institution in the en- 
suing year. 
GENERAL ITEMS. 
What may be termed an auxiliary industry in 
rice-growing is the manufacture of starch. The 
rice is cleaned and soaked before being ground. It 
is then washed in about seven changes of water, 
which carries off all but the starch, leaviug the 
latter white and clean at the bottom of the wash- 
ing vessel. The industry is being actually carried 
on in Australia. 
Apropos of the report on abortion by Mr. Vete- 
rinary-Surgeon de Silva in our last issue, we 
quote as follows from the Agricultural Gazette of 
NewSouth Wales, which givesthe views of Principal 
Thompson of the Hawkesbury Agricultural Col- 
lege:—" I have the honour to report that abortion, 
miscarriage or premature labour may be brought 
on by many causes among which are rough treat- 
ment, being chased by dogs or hardly driven, and 
the eating of certain plants, such as ergotted rye. 
I would draw attention to the fact that the malady 
is very contagious, and often runs through a herd 
with almost electric celerity. We had several 
cases here last year. The fact of one cow having 
aborted simply smelling another through a fence 
caused her to abort the next day. Immediately 
a cow aborts she should be isolated from the rest 
of the cows in calf, the place thoroughly disin- 
fected by lime-washing, and carbolic acid, diluted 
with water, sprinkled over the stall. No preven- 
tive measures have ever been found to be of the 
slightest avail." The evidence giveu before the 
