July 2, 190*0.] Supplement to the Troincal Agriculturist.^^ 
67 
beans the fibre is reduced to 11 per cent, atl 
other constituents being proportioiiatelj' increased. 
Gre^-n grana has also to be given after boiling. 
Having considered the chief leguminous horse 
foods of the E tst, viz., Bengal gram, horse gram, 
bhick gram aad green gram, 1 '.viil now go on to 
refer to the chief cereal food. Paddy {Oryza 
sativa) which is the staple food of the people in the 
form of vice or husked paddy, is also largely used 
for horses — in the unhusked state, mixed with 
gram. Though some have a ijrejudice against the 
use of paddy as a horse food, it forms a good 
enough diet when given mixed with gram. Paddy 
is ricb in starch but very poor in nitrogenous 
constituents and fat. 
Thougli rice is the staple food of the people in 
the East, it is invariably eaten with either meat, 
ghee, dhall, or some pi-eparation containing coconut 
milk, for it was found by experience, long before 
the chemist settled thij fact by analysis, that it 
•was wanting iu nutritive properties owing to 
the absence of nitrogenous constituents and fat, 
so that flesh-forming and fatty substances had to be 
added to make it a suitable diet. The same 
necessity has givsn rise to the use of gram 
•with paddy as a horse food. Doubtless the husk 
of paddy has like bran a mechanical stimulating 
effect on the intestines. To counteract this, paddy 
has to be first ground separately. But even a 
mixed diet of paddy and gram contains a small 
proportion of fat, and I am inclined to think 
that we shall be taught hy experience to add a 
third ingredient to make up the deficiency in fat, 
say some form of oil-cake. 
SOME BIBLE PLANTS OP CEYLON. 
n. Cinnamon. 
This plant common enough in Ceylon is the 
Cinnamomii.m Zeijlankum of botanists. In the Old 
Testament cinnamon is referred to in more than 
one place as Kinnamon. 
It would be useless to describe the plant or the 
method by which the cinnamon of commerce is 
prepared from the bark, as both are too well- 
known even out of Ceylon. It is not generally 
known, however, that in addition to the oil of 
cinnamon which is distilled from both bark and 
leaves,, (though the latter is infinitely superior 
and therefore considerably more expensive than 
the latter), a fat can also be extracted by boiling 
the macerated fruit. This substance has been 
called "cinnamon suet," and was used by the 
Portuguese to make scented candles for use in 
their churches. These candles are, however, not 
manufactured in the Island in the present day, 
and when samples of cinnamon suet were required 
by the late Dr. Trimen for the Imperial Institute 
collection, they had to be specially made by Mr. 
J, P. Drieberg, cinnamon planter of Jaela, Ekele. 
Cinnamon has in the past alvs^ays been highly 
valued as a spice and a perfume, and is said to 
have been one of the principal spices employed in 
the manufacture of precious ointment for the 
tabernacle (Exodus xxx. l!2-2o). Solomon speaks 
of it as one of the frankincense plants ; " Calamus, 
cinnamon, -nith all trees of frankincense (Songs 
of - Solojjiou iv, MJ. It§ use as a j^erfume 
is referred to in Proverbs vii. 17 : "I have, 
perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and 
ciaaamou." The merchandise of it is noticed in 
an account of tlie destruction of the Apocalyptic 
Babylon : '•Cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, 
and frankincense (Kevelations xviii. 3). 
Besides the true cinnamon should be noted 
another species known as Cassia, and mentioned iu 
the Bible under the names of Kiddah. It was an 
ingredient of the holy ointment already referred 
to, and is referred to by Ezekiel among the 
merchandise of Tyre (Ezekiel xxvii. 19). This 
plant is understood to be Cinnrxmomum Cassia, 
the bark of which is generally known as Cassia 
bark. It is thought to be inferior to true cinna- 
mon, being coarser and more pungent, with a 
certain amount of bitterness. The leaves when 
chewed taste of cinnamon, but those of the true 
cinnamon plants have more the flavour of Cloves. 
Cassia oil arid Cassia buds appear to be produced 
by the same tree, which grows both in India and 
China. 
THE TRINIDAD STOCii FAEM. 
The report of the Manager of the Trinidad 
Government Farm for 1899, which has been 
kindly sent to us, speaks of the year having 
proved an exceptionally trying one for the manage- 
ment of a large herd on a limited area of 
land, aggravated by the drying up of the 
pastures and the prevalence of hot winds. Asa 
result the yield of milk was lower and the cost of 
upkeep of the animals higher. The milch herd 
consists of 100 animals : 114,737 quarts of 
milch were i^roduced as against 130,977 quarts last 
year, that is, 16,l-!0 quarts less from about the 
same number of cows, 52. The following breeds 
are kept on the Farm : — Pure zebu, Sinhalese, Red 
Poll cross and Guernsey cross, besides what is des- 
cribed as the general milch herd. The particular 
breed of Indian cattle referred to as Zebu (a general 
term for the humped cattle of India) is not 
mentioned. The following refei'ence is made 
to the Sinhalese cattle which were taken over 
from Ceylon some time ago: — 
" A small herd of Sinhalese cattle were in- 
troduced from Ceylon. These miniature animals 
would be of excellent service on cocoa estates, 
as they could pass freely under the trees when 
crooking. They are very strong, quick and hardy | 
for cane farmers they could take the place of 
mule-', do the tame work, and cost a third 
less, in fact, prove the poor man's beast. There 
has been no increase as yet in the herd." 
With the high opinion entertained of the 
utility of Sinhalese cattle, it would, we think, 
be as well to introduce at least another pair 
into Trinidad with a view to increasing 
the stock. (In this connection we might add 
that the latest demand for Sinhalese cattle came 
from Austria for the Emperor's Zoological Gardens. 
The animals were selected for the local agents 
by Veterinary Surgeon Chinniah.) 
The profit during the year's working of the 
Trinidad Farm is given as 5 "6 per cent on the 
capital outlay. "VVe should mention that besideg 
the dairy a horse-breeding and poultry farm 
also piaiutained. 
