654 
Supplement to the " Tropical AgricwlUirist." [March 1, 1901. 
GKNERAL ITEMS. 
A curious way of dwarfing plants for table 
decoration, says an exchange, is to take an orange, 
and, having cut a small hole in the peel, to 
remove all pulp and juice, fill tlie skin thus emp- 
tied with some coconut fibre, fine mos«, and 
charcoal, just stiffened with a little loam. In the 
centre of this put an acorn, date stone, or the 
kernel of ntiy tree that it is proposed to obtain a 
dwarf from. Place the orange peel in a tumbler 
or vase in a window, and moisten the contents 
occasionally with a little water through the hole 
in the peel, and sprinkle the surface witii fine 
wood ashes. In due time the tree will push up 
its stem through the compost and its roots 
through the orange peel. The roots must then 
be cut flush with the peel, and the {.rocess re- 
peattid frequently for some time. The stem of 
the tree will assume a stunted gnarled appear- 
ance, making it look like an old tree. When 
the ends of the roots are cut for the last 
time, the orange peel which curiously enough 
does not rot, may be painted black and varnished. 
Has any ojie given this a trial? It is worth 
trying whether it will succeed with us in a 
tropical climate. 
Mr. Ranglaret, a Frenchman, has discovered a 
very f-imple means of stopping bolting horses. 
It consists of a pair of moveable blinkers fixed 
with the ordinary blinkers, and connected by 
means of a string which passing through a ring 
attached to the collar or saddle is held by the 
driver. On the horse bolting the string is simply 
pulled till the false blinkers close up the eyes 
of the horse so tliat he cannot see and stops bolt- 
ing. It is said that experiments carried out 
before the French Minister of War proved entirely 
satisfactory. 
The imperial cwt. of 112 Ib^;. may be taken in 
an average fed animal as representing 64 lbs. 
carcass or dead weight. Prime animals would 
give a larger percentage of carcass, perhaps as 
hiijh as 72 lbs. in very choice bullocks, anp 
inferior cattle a less proportion down to 60 lbs. 
per cwt. live weight. 
The following is recommended as the best 
ration for a horse during a sea voyage : 6 lbs. 
oats, 5 lbs. bran, 10 lbs. (about 3 cubic feet) hay, 
8 lbs. straw, \ gill vinegar, a oz. nitre, and 8 
gallons water. 
To avoid the labour of constantlj- stirring jattJ, 
in the course of preparation, place half h 
crown in the bottom of the cooking pan, before 
putting the fruit in. You will find (says the 
Australian Farm and Home) that the trouble will 
be overcome. The movement of the coin caused by 
the operation of boiling prevents burning quite as 
much us stirring will. Remember that the efiect 
will be spoiled if any stirring is done- 
