650 
Supplement to the " Tropical AgriouUurist.*^ [Mabch l/iooi. 
THE ' VELVET BEAN. 
The following notes from the Queensland Agri- 
cultural Gazette refer to results of experimeals 
made in Macksiy, Qaeeuslaud, by Mr. A. A 
Ramsay : — 
The velvet beaa was planted at the beginning 
of November, 1899, and the analysis refers to the 
crop at Slst April, 1900. The crop was sown in 
drill?. 
Date of Planting — 4th November, 1899. 
D ite of Harvesting— 3rd April, 1900. 
Yield in tons per acre — 18'2o0. 
The analysis gave of moisture ... 72'370 % 
1. Mineral matter ... ... 4-232 % 
2. Organic matter ... ... 23 '398 % 
100-00 
1. The Mineral matter contained of potash -2990 
Phosphoric anhydride -0600 
2. The Organic matter continued nitrogen -8250 
Per cent nitrogen in dry sutistance 2-9858 
Moisture per acre of crop 
1. Mineral mitter do 
2. Organic mitter do 
13-208 tons. 
, -772 ,, 
, 4-270 ,, 
18-250 tons. 
1. Containing potash ... 122-23 lbs. 
Phosphoric anhydride ... 24-53 ,, 
2. Containing nitrogeu ... 337 "26 ,, 
Money value of potash, phosphoric anhydride 
and nitrogen per acre £13 10s. 9i. 
THE "UNCULTIVATED" OILS OF CEYLON^ 
green tree. The oil from the bark is used in the 
treatment of sore?. 
'i. Wal-del Oil.— This is the produce of 
Artoear2)U$ nobilu (Urticaceae) u faiily large- 
sized tree. The juice of the bark is used to kill 
maggots and is said to be used in other ways in 
cattle treatment. The oil which is not made 
mention of in any botanical woiks I have had 
access to, is, as 1 am informed, extracted from 
the seeds, and as the outer shell of the f-eed 
when roasted is considered good eating, the oil is 
probably also edible. 
4. Makulu • Oil.— This is the product of 
Hydnocarpus venenata (Bixinenu) a large tree 
generally found on the banks of rivers. The seed 
yields an oil of the consistence of soft butter, 
known in South India (Kanara) as Tliertarj oil. 
Externally the oil is used in cutaneoms diseases, 
and is considered specially valuable in tlie treat- 
ment of leprosy, being recommended as a sub.-titute 
for the well-known chalmugra oil (got from 
Gynocardia odorata ). 
5. DiviKADURU Oil. —This is the product 
of Tabcrnaemontana dickotoma (Apocynaceae) 
also known as the '- forbidden fruit," and " Eve's 
a{)ple. The tree is small in size. The oil is 
extracted from the seeds and is used in the treat- 
ment of sores and ulcere. 
6. Madol Oil.— This is the product of 
Garcinia echinocarpa (Guttiferae), — a tall tree of 
the forests in the lower mountain zone. The 
thick oil is extracted from the seeds. Tlnvaites 
mentiotis that it is burnt but yields a poor light. 
The leaves and bark are used iu dropsical affections, 
and also as a vermifuge : no mention is, however, 
made of the oil being medicinally employed. 
{To be concluded). 
Among the exhibits sent from Ceylon to the 
great Exhibition at Paris last year was a small 
collection of the most useful oils produced by 
forest trees and uncultivated plants. Some of 
these from their importance as medicinal agents 
are worthy of special attention and examination 
by experts, and it is with the object of bringing 
them to the notice of medical men and others 
who may be interested in this subject that we 
are led to enumerate the oils and write short notes 
on their medical virtues, as known to the natives 
of Ceylon and India. 
1. DuHUDU Oil. — This is the product of 
Celastrus paniculatus (Celastraceae) sometimes 
called the oleum nigrum plant, from the dark 
colour of the oil. The plant is of the nature of 
a scandent shrub. It is from the seeds that the 
dark red oil is extracted. This is acrid and pun- 
gent in flavour, and has a tendency to deposit a 
fat when kept. Medicinally the oil is used iu 
India for beri-beri, rheumatism, dropsy, and also 
as a diuretic, diaphorelic and nervine stimulant. 
Among the natives of Ceylon it is considered to 
Strengthen the brain, purify the blood and cure 
internal and external sores and boils, while it is 
highly recommended for external application in 
rheumatic and gouty pains. 
2. Iriya Oil.— This is the product of Myris- 
fica irya (Myristicaceaej a moderate-sized ever- 
MILCH CATTLE AND THEIR PRODUCE. 
The latest volume of Transactions of the High* 
land and Agricultural Society contains an in- 
structive paper entitled "Lessons of a Milk 
Record," in which important deductions from a 
properly-kept record (which every dairy farmer 
should have) are given by the writer for the 
benefit of dairy farmers. 
In keeping a milk record it is recommended 
that the milk should not be measured but weighed, 
and the most convenient way of doing this is by 
using a spring balance in which the scale is so 
set that no deduction is necessary for the can. 
There are so many causes that affect the quality 
and quantity of milk that only a long series of 
records and tests can be expected to supply 
data for reliable deductions. Rough treatment, 
exposure to rain and rough weather, change 
of diet, change of milkers, rapidity of milking, 
length of interval between milking, unusual 
excitement, or sickness, all tend to temporarily 
affect the richness of milk and the quantity yielded ; 
while it is the case that some cows' milk varies 
considerably ivithout any apparent cause. 
Cream tables for testing the percentage of cream 
in milk are to be at once put down as absolutely 
unreliable. In testing the milk of 20 cows, it 
was found that while the percentage of cream a| 
