Jan. 1, 1901.] 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
481 
correct in many of the statements which are at 
variance with those made over tlie Sultan of Fe- 
rak's sia;nature, tlie seeming contradiction may 
probably he explained by the widely differing con- 
ditions prevailing,' in each country. Iiius, Sander- 
son stated that //tUS^A is not of regular occurrence 
in the tame bull, which statement, everybody 
knows, is perfectly correct ; the Malay authority 
says : " With balls in sound and full condition 
which are over twenty-five years in age, the pe- 
riods of niusth lecur every year when the 'se- 
pendurian ' is ripe in tiie jungle." He does not 
mention the season at which the fruit referred to 
does ripen, but he makes it perfectly clear that 
the bull elephant goes musth at a recognised season 
in each year. This does not controvert Sanderson. 
On the contrary there is a neg itive contirniation 
of it in his remarks that niusth rarely apj)ears 
in animals much below par. Difference in con- 
ditions of life cannot explain so radical a physi- 
ological difference as the following — Sanderson 
says: "There is ample proof that it is not the 
male elephant that comes in season. In follow- 
ing single males with a view to capturing them 
with trained females, they may always be relied 
upon to make advances to the females usually to 
some particular one." This is not very convincing 
evidence though it bears the stamp of observation 
for which Sanderson has deserved reputation. Tlie 
Sultan of Perak's men say that bulls do show signs 
of musth in the presence of a cow in season, and 
that the cows have no regular season, " but 
merely follow the conduct or inclination ot the 
bulls." Sanderson, if we read him correctly, did 
not admit any correlation between musth and 
sexual excitement, adducing in proof that on 
four occasions on which he had opportunity i.f 
judging the bulls showed no sign of musth. We 
think, however, that Sanderson's judgment on 
this point is now generally admitted to have 
erred. 
It is curious that the answer to our correspon- 
dent's enquiry concerning the length of the 
period of gestation should be qualified. "Those 
who are experienced with regard to the habits of 
elephants put the period of gestation at tweniy-four 
months." Inasmuch as opportunities ot ascer- 
taining the correct period are as frequent as those 
offered by o.ther domestic animals it is somewhat 
strange that no Malay expert has taken the trouble 
CO observe this point. There is no doubt that the 
period varies considerably in length, the recor- 
ded cases range from 19 months to 20| months, 
and in contradiction to Sanderson's native infor- 
mants the calf born after the longest period 
was a female. There is evidently something to be 
learned from the Malay experts, as, in reply to the 
question whether the presence of man deterred 
bulls from leaping, the answer contains the state- 
ment "Others (elephants) again can be detened 
by chose men who have learnt the art of the ele- 
phant doctors of old times." We have "elephant 
doctors" on this sidethebay, but their practice of 
necessity lies in a groove different from that of 
the Malay who for centuries has had dealings with 
'•breeding stock" if vvei may apply the term to 
animals wh-ose state of domestication is so incom- 
plete that the union of two born in captivity is in- 
fertile. It does not appear that enquiry was made 
concerning the maximum age attained by the ele- 
phant, or if made no answer was given. Ti e point 
is one which has been much, and somt-tiines 
fiercely debated, but facts worth recording are 
practically non-existent, From the circumstance 
that the bull elephant, according to our iRIalay 
informants, reaches maturity at the age of twenty* 
five, we might speculate from this basis on the limit 
ot age attained, but see no particular end to be 
accomplished by so doing. There is no good 
reason for indulging in conjecture now as our 
correspondent informs us lie is preparing a fresh 
series of questions for submission to the Sultan 
of Perak and hopes thereby to obtain light on this 
and several other points. 
AN ORCHID FROM CEYLON. 
PRESENTED TO THE R B S., LONDON. 
A meeting of the Fellows of this Society was 
held yesterday, Mr. Andrew Clark in the chair. 
Mis. Scharheb, M.D., was elected a Fellow, and 
the names of ten candidates were read. There 
were shown specimens in flower ot the lily of 
the valley orchid from Ceylon, presented by Miss 
Drage, and a flower of the Victoria Regia water 
lily now in bloom in the Gardens. — Daily Neivs, 
Nov. 16. 
» 
RUBBER FROM TOBACO. 
Au item which is likely to be of great iiiipor« 
tauce in the future exports of Tobago is rubber. 
The only rubber which has hitherto been exported 
is the gum of the indigenous balata tree. This has 
been done on a very small scale, and could not be 
extended without rapidly exterminating the finest 
timber tree in the colony. Many cucoa planters, 
however, are now experimentally planting on selected 
parts of their estates the more profitable sorts of 
rubber trees, and two large estates are now devoted 
almost entirely to Castilloa. On one of these, in 
Tobago, seventy thousand trees have been planted 
but, of course, some years must elapse before tb , 
produce is put on the market. — Chemist and DruqrjistQ 
Nov, 24. 

Artificial Indigo had long been known as a 
laboratory product, costing far too much to be 
made upon a commercial scale. No one in this 
country thought of improving Che process or ii:- 
venting a new one, everybody being well content 
to be practical and to make the things lie was 
accustomed to make. A large staff of trained 
chemists, maintained for purposes of practical 
research by the Badische Anilin and Soda Fabrik, 
tuined their energies to this problem. it was, 
no doubt, a costly investigation, but not an un- 
remuneracive one, since many good things were 
discovered by the way. At last the triumph of 
theory was reached in the perfecting of a process, 
which practical ability, combined with vast know* 
lei'ge and enterprise, has made a great commercial 
success. The output is now equal to the indigo crop 
of a quarter of a million acres in Behar ; and, as 
will be seen by another communication which we 
print today, tlie planters are now ajjpealing to 
the Indian Government for aid in setting up a 
supplementary sugar industry as the only chance 
of competing with the German factory. It would 
be easy to give other illustrations ot the truth 
Professor Perry wants to drive home — that our 
education is not sufficient to enable us to hold our 
own, that our adhesion to antiquated methods is 
forfeiting our industrial advantages, and that 
it behoves the whole community, through all its 
enterprises, whether private or Government, to 
awake to the necessity for a more strenuous 
pursuit of that organization and co-ordination 
of knowledge which is called science, — London 
limes, Nov, 9, 
