220 
Supplement to the Tropical Aff'ricuUumi.** 
[Sept. 1, 1902, 
too dark necessitating decolouration before con- 
densation in a vacuum. 
Anogeissus latifolia (Sin, Dawu). — The leaves 
and bark of this tree are astringent, a specimen of 
Madras bark yielding 32'5 per cent, and of leaves 
15'5 per cent of tannin. The sale of dried and 
powdered leaves has been suggested. 
{To be continued,) 
©- — 
THE PACKING OP FRUITS AND SEEDS. 
BY J. H. HART, F.L.S,, 
Superintendent, lioyal Botanic Gardens, Trimidad. 
(Concluded.) 
(2.) SEEDS. 
Some people are under the impression that 
the Botanic stations maintain seed shops, where 
any kind of tropical seed can be purchased in 
the same vray as from seedsmen ia temperate 
climates* It' is not so. There are very few 
tropical seeds indeed, which can be safely kept 
for more than a month, a great many which cannot 
be kept more than a week, and not a few whose 
vitality is destroyed in one or two days if not 
properly cared for. Thus, a seed shop under 
European conditions for tropical seed is im- 
possible. 
Tropical seeds possess for the most part a 
very fugitive vitality, and are easily destroyed 
by an excess of either drought or moisture; 
but more quickly by the former. Even if left 
exposed to air, the humidity of which is generally 
high, they suffer largely, but if in a position 
where the alternations of dryness and humidity 
can affect them, they are destroyed in a very 
short time. 
Proper methods have therefore to be devised 
to keep them in a suitable state until they 
reach their destination. 
Such seeds as mango, cashew, nicker beans, 
some palms &c., can stand a large amount of 
hardship and will keep for a long time, and may 
be packed in bags or boxes for transit. It 
is quite a different matter, however, with seeds 
of Artocarpus, Brosi^iium, Amherstia, Castilloa, 
Hevea, Cynometra, &c., &c. Such seeds must be 
preserved in a suitable medium to keep them in 
good condition and preserve them for any length 
of time either in hand or on a journey. The 
best mediuin found so far, is the fine duatorsliorb 
tibre from the interior of the coconut, com- 
monly called coconut refuse. This material 
is the lightest that can be employed and answers 
well for uloaost any kind of seeds. It is esi.e- 
cially suitable for packing in tins for transmission 
by post. 
Another material which has been successfully 
used is weathered charcoal dust. New or 
unweathered charcoal dust is just as bad for 
packing seed as weatheied dust is suitable, on 
account of its caustic character and the amount 
of moisture it will absorb from seeds packed in ir. 
A danger with both materials is, that spores of 
certain fungi get into them and destroy the seeds 
they coTer. 
Packing for delicate seeds should not be too dry 
or too wet, but a happy medium between the two, 
just sufficient to prevent the seed losing moisture 
and iusufflcient to start it rapidly into growth. 
On the whole it is better that se'jds should 
germinate on the way than be kept too dry, 
provided the process of growth does not reach 
beyond a certain stage. 
Experience teaches that greater success is met 
with if seeds are started on their journey as soon 
after harvesting as possible, and not kept a day 
longer than is necessary. If only required for home 
use, they are best sown as soon as possible after 
being gathered. 
There is another danger to which even the 
hardiest of our seeds are subject, and that is, the 
attacks made upon them by ants, weevils, and 
other small insects. Seeds which have suffered in 
this way are often to all appearance perfectly 
sound, but a close examination will generally show 
that the germ or growing part has been entirely 
destroyed. The seed is therefore useless. 
Persons living in temperate climates, with no 
experience of the tropics, can hardly believe that 
seeds cannot be dealt with in the tropics as iti 
temperate climates, viz., gathered, cleaned and 
placed in a " dry drawer" until required. Proof 
that imported seeds will not keep is to be found in 
the universal compluiuts of the bad quality of the 
seeds which are on sale. Many trials of freshly 
imported seeds have been made at Trinidad. As 
a rule, they have been found to be good on arrival, 
and to lose vituliiy exactly in proportion to the 
time allowed to elapse since they were imported. 
Peas, which on first arrival showed agermination 
of 98 per cent, kept for one month in a dry 
drawer will have their vitality reduced to 40 per 
cent, and in three months' time not 10 per cent 
will germinate. Other kinds of seeds are affected 
in a similar waj'. If the period of test, however, 
happens to be in the dry sea^^on, vitality will be 
found to be more persistent. 
These facts were recognised many years ago 
and have been met, by ordering jjeriodical sup- 
plies at frequent intervals. Seeds can be kept for 
a greater length of time if they are imported in 
packages which have been sealed in dry air in the 
temparate zone and only unsealed as required. 
The best packages for seeds are smull tins opening 
readily with a thumb piece, like Huntley, and 
Palmer's biscuit tins, or the tins used for 
packing Capstan tobacco. 
Cjiitiuental seedsmen adopt now methods 
quicker than English traders. The latter do not 
appear to exert themselves to keep the West Indian 
trade. 
The transport of seeds should always be made 
by the quickest route and by parcel post, where 
possible. Consequently they should be put up in 
light and handy packings- 
SWEET POTATOES, 
The West Indian Department of Agriculturt 
are giving some attention to the growing and 
preserving of Sweet Potatoes, Wo feel sure 
that a good deal can be done to develope and 
