78 
THE TROPICAL 
AGKICULTUEIST. [Aug 1, 1^00. 
with red lead and other less objectionable substa'.;c;s. 
The hot taste seema to be due to a peculiar acrid 
fluid called capsicin, which is so pungent that half 
a grain of it voUtilised in a large rojm, causes 
all who respire the contained air to cough and 
sneeze. It is remarkable that the narcotic properties, 
which are possessed by most of the Solanacein to a 
greater or less extent, are not present in Capsicum - 
though this is open to some doubt, as it is said that 
some of the American species have narcotic pro- 
derties residing in the pulpy matter in which the 
seeds are imbadded, this pulp being absent in those 
kinds which are used for their pungent propartief. 
Capsicum fruits are used medicinally, in powder 
or as a tincture, as an external application, or as 
a gargle in certain cases of sore throat, particularly 
those of a malignant character, and internally as a 
stimulant in cases of impaired digestion, &c. Several 
kinds are cultivated in this country, as objects of 
cariosity, and for the s ike of their fruit i. [m.t.m ] 
The species of Capsicum are chiefly natives of the 
East and West Indies, China, Brazi), and E^ypt, 
where they are much esteemel for their pungent 
fruit and seeds, which, under the name of C lyenne 
Pepper, or Chillies, form an indispensable condiment, 
which Nature herself appears to have pointed out 
to persons resident within the tropics. According 
to Sir R. Schomburgk, the natives in Gaiana eit 
the fruit of these plants in such abundance as would 
not be credited by a Earopean unless he were to 
see it {Jour. Horf. Sje. ii. 153). In Jamaica the 
species most esteemed is the Bonnet Pepper (C. 
tetrayonum), the fruits of which are very fleshy, and 
have a depressed form, like a Scotch bjnnet. The 
shrubby Capsicum, or Spur Pepper (C fratescens), 
is a native of the East Indies, and has been in our 
gardens since 1G30. Ic forms a dwarf bushy shrub, 
with white flowers, and bears numerous small oblong 
obtuse pods, which are very pungent, and in their 
green and lipe state are used for pickling, as well 
as for making Chilli vinegar. This is done by merely 
putting a handful of pods into a bottle, and after- 
wards ti ling it with bast vinegar, which in several 
weeks will be fit for use. But the chief purpose for 
which this species is cultivated is for making C lyenne 
pepper, which is often prep ired by drying the pods 
on a hot plate, or in a slow oven, and then pounding 
them in a mortar, and pissing theai through a hand- 
mill until the whole is reduced to the finest possible 
state. After this has been done, the p iwder is to 
be sifted through a thin muslin sieve, and preserved 
in well-corked glass bottles for use. Tbe common 
annual Capsicum, or Guinea Peppar (C. a,nnHum), 
was introduced into B irope by the Spiniirds. It 
was cultivated in England in i.54S, and is suffi3iently 
hardy to thrive in summer against a south wall in 
the open air, and mature its fiuit. The colour, 
direction, and figure of the latter is ver/ variable — 
some being yellow, others red, and others black. 
In a green state they are used f )r pickling, and when 
ripe are mixed with tomatos, &c., to form sauces. 
Tney are also dried and ground for use like Cayenne 
pepper. The Berry-bearing C ipsicum, or Bird 
Pepper (C. haccatuiii), is indigenous to both the Bast 
and West Indies, and has been grown in this country 
since 1731. Its pods are erect, roundish, egg-shaped, 
very pungent, and when rips are dried and used for 
the same purposes as those of other kinds of Capsicum. 
They also form one of the chief ingredients in the 
preparation known in the West Indies as man dram, 
which is usually resorted to by those effected with 
loss of appetite or weak digestion, and consists of 
cucumbers sliced very thiu, shallots or onions ch jpped 
very fine, a little lime juice and Madeira wine, to 
which is added a handful of the pods of this pepper, 
and the whole are then mashed together, and mixed 
with as much liquid as may be thought necessary; 
Besides the three species noticed as being the kindi 
moat generally cultivated, there are many other 
species and varieties occasionally grown for the sake 
of their pods, all of which yield a warm acrid oil, 
which acts powerfully on the stomach, and is thought 
to correct flj.tuloacy, aad assist digeatioa. [W. B.B.J 
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN 
GREATER BRITAIN. 
paper read before the foreign and 
colon! a.l section of the society of arts, on 
tuesday, february 27, 1900. 
By R. Hedger Wallace. 
(Continued from Vol. IX.. jpage 7.) 
It is a matter of regret to learn that agriculture 
is not yet taught in the schools of this colony, for, 
in the paper read at the " International Congress 
on Technical Education " by the Emigration Agent 
for the Colony of Qaeensland, it is stated that les- 
sons in agricultre had been introduced into the pro- 
gramme of instruction for country schools, with 
practical lessons in horticnlture, for the school children 
of Brisbane and suburbs. Queensland is, however, 
peculiarly situated, as within its borders both branches 
of agriculture are carried on — the tropical and the 
temperate. 
The college lately established is near Brisbane, 
and the three years' course of study icludes the fol- 
lowing subjects. — 
First Year. — Agriculture, horticulture, dairying, car- 
pentry (industrial), agriculture, horticulture, (lectures) 
arithmetic, book keeping, chemistry, drawing, English 
composition. 
Second Year. — Agriculture, horticulture, dairying, 
blacksmithing, (industrial), agricul'ure, horticulture, 
dairying (lectures), anatomy and physiology, botany, 
chemistry, entomology, geology, physics, surveying. 
Third Year. — Industrial ("special work), agriculture 
(lectures), agricultural chemistry, bacteriology, botany 
landscape gardening, meterology, mechanics, veteii- 
nary science, zoology. 
There are also four State Farms in Queensland, 
at Westbrook, Hermitage, Gindie, and iJeggenden, 
and their object is to carry out experiments for 
the benefit of the farming community in the district 
where they are located. ("Unlike the farms in New 
South Wales, facilities for students gaining tx- 
perience is not afforded at these Queensland State 
Farms.) Agricultural education is also furthered by 
the employment of instructors in fruit culture, viti- 
culture, tobacco culture, and coffee culture, and the 
issue of various publications. 
Passing now to Victoria, it may be said that agri- 
cultulal education in this colony follows very much 
on the same lines as that of New South Wales. 
Agriculture can be taught in the State Schools, 
and it is an optional subject in some of the teachers 
eximiuations. It used to be taught in the State 
School Teachers' Training Institute, before that 
institution was abandoned. Lectures on dairying 
are being given at present in the country schools, 
and proving a success. Nothing howcver, has yet 
been done in regard to school gardens, or the practical 
demonstration of agricultural principles in rural 
schools, as is done in South Australia. In the 
Schools of Mines throughout the colony, both agri- 
culture and agricultural chemistry may be taught, 
and the curriculum of the Victorian Technical Schools 
includes agriculture, fruit-growing, and veterinary 
science. A Royal Commission, I may note, h is lately 
been appointed, and is now dealing with tha pre- 
sent educational system of the colony, and in- 
Testigating as to the best systems of teachnical and 
agricultural teaching, as found in Europe and America. 
The whole system of teaching in the colony is there- 
fore likely sooa to be re-modelled. 
The interest of purely agrici^ltural education are 
in this colony entrusted to a Council of Agricultural 
Education, which represents the Agiicultnral Societies 
and the Government. Two colleges have been es- 
tablished by this Council — one at Dookie, in the 
north-eastern district and near to Sheppartoin ; the 
other at Ljngereaong, in the Wimmera district, and 
near to Horsham. The latter college, which is placed 
near the Mallee lands, and admirably adapted fjr 
demoustraining what can be done in farming with 
