264 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1902. 
MADRAS AND WEST AFRICAN PEANUTS. 
A CONSUL-GENERAL'S EEPOKT. 
■ In course of a report on French methods of pea- 
nuts crushing, the United States Consul-General 
at Marseilles ^ives some interesting particulars 
regarding Madras and West African nuts. The 
yield of oil from decorticated peanuts from the 
Madras coast, which constitute the largest import 
for the Marseilles soap trade, is from .39 to 40 per 
cent of their weight. The resultant cake contains 
from 7 to 9 per cent of oil. The price of the oil 
depends largely upon the purpose for which it is 
intended. Oil from Madras decorticated nuts, 
utilised by soap manufacturers, brings 58 francs 
per 100 kilograms (f ll'I9 per 220 pounds) naked, 
first pressure, delivered at buyers' stores. The 
finest edible oils are obtained from nuts imported 
in the shell, these coming from the West Coast 
of Africa, chiefly from RntRsque and Gambia. 
Oils from these nuts are worth from 75 to 80 
francs per 100 kilograms ($14-47 to $15-44 per 220 
pounds), naked, first pressure. Hand decorticated 
Mozambique nuts give an oil now worth from 74 
to 75 francs ($84-28 to $14-47). The second pres- 
sure oil from Kutfisque, Mozambique, and Gambia 
nuts, which is suitable tor illuminating purposes, 
is worth from 68 to 70 francs per 100 kilograms 
($I3*12 to I13-51 per 220 pounds"). Ground nut 
eake brings from 1275 to 13 francs ($2-46 to |2-50) 
per 100 kilograms at mills, or 13 25 to 13*50 francs 
(2-55 to $2-60) delivered f o b Marseilles in bulk, 
that is to say, without bags. There is usually a 
difference of 3 francs per 100 kilograms (58 cents 
per 220 pounds) in this market in favour of 
ground-nut cakes over cotton seed cakes. The 
latter are worth delinted, 10 francs (Sl'93) per 
100 kilograms at mills. Marseilles oil cakes aie 
sold most conclusively for cattle food. The soap 
mills of Marseilles consume on an average 3,000 
to 3,5C0 tons of ground-nut and other seed oil per 
month, and about the same quantity of copra and 
palm-kernel oil. — M. Mail, Aug, 27. 
MOSQUITOES AND YELLOW FEVER 
IN CUBA. 
{Translated for the *' Ceijlon Observer") 
It has long been a matter of general kriowledge 
that the mosquito is the principal agent in the 
dissemination of yellow fever and malaria. Since 
the beginning of 1901 a determined attempt has 
been made by the Americans to rid Havana 
(in Cuba) of these noxious insects. Two methods 
have been used for exterminating them : — first, 
every house in which there is a case of yellow 
fever, and the three or four houses in its inime* 
diate neighbourhood, are thoroughly fumigated, 
thus destroying the mosquitoes within them ; 
secondly, and as a general measure, all standing 
•pools throughout the town and suburbs are either 
drained or filled up. These pools are well-known to 
be the favourite breeding ground of the mosquito, 
the larvae of which develop in still water from the 
eggs laid on its surface, and live in that element 
until their transformation into perfect insects. 
Sheets of water, which cannot be got rid of in that 
way, receive a layer of petroleum on their surface. 
When the larv£E come up to breathe, the petro- 
leum clogs their breathing passages and speedily 
kills thetn by asphyxia. 
In Havana there is now a staff of 100 men, whose 
sole business is the destruction of mosquitoes. 
Already excellent results have been obtained by 
their agency. Before 1901 yellow fever yras 
permanent throughout the summer. In January 
there had been 23 cases and 7 deaths. The war on 
mosquitoes began in February ; and in that 
month there were 8 cases and 5 deaths, in March 
2 cases, in May 4 cases, in June none, la 
September there were 2 deaths against an average of 
70 previously. At the same time cases of malaria 
have sensibly declined in number, which is not to 
be wondered at, since mosquitoes are the main 
factors in propagating that disease. In September 
there were 11 deaths from malaria against an 
average of 32 up to that month. 
In short from April 1st to October 1st, 1901, there 
were only 5 deaths from yellow fever, instead of 296 
[a saving of 291 lives in 6 months!] These figures 
are eloquent enough in themselves to render com- 
ment unnecessary, on our part, upon the good work 
of the Americans through their vigorous action 
in Cuba. It is earnestly to be hoped that the 
example they have set may be followed every, 
where. — From the " Revue Scientifique," April 
19th, 1902. 
'» " ■ 
A CEYLON VIEW OP THE CASE FOR 
MANURING. 
I notice in your editorial of 24th July that 
you advocate the adoption by India of the manur- 
ing systems in vogue in Ceylon in preference to 
the Indian methods of extension so much practised 
hitherto. It is unquestionably true that continued 
extension of a garden to compensate for declining 
yield merely means increased cost of production 
per lb. Yet the other system, which, if carried out 
on certain lines, will give largely increased crops 
and at the same time often reduce the cost of 
production per pound of tea, is not without ita 
disadvantages which 3,re becoming more apparent 
every day under the increased area operated upon 
within the last few years. In the first place over- 
production is unquestionably increased, and, in 
estimating the financial return, allowance is 
hardly ever made for the effects on the market, 
that immediately result from the adoption of such 
schemes by any reasonable number of estates — 
and in tea, where each company knows what its 
neighbour is doing, such new methods of culti- 
vation cannot be confined to one or two indi- 
viduals, but are quickly taken up by many others 
who often look upon the figures shown them as 
their only salvation. 
If an apology were needed for the action of 
Ceylon in this matter, it is to be found in the fact 
that with our poor soils the necessity for costly 
artificial manures is imperative, if estates are not 
to deteriorate. 
It is with present prices impossible to provide 
the necessary money for such increased expenditure, 
so that proprietors are driven to employ such 
quantities and qualities of artificial stimulants as 
will greatly increase the total yield, often by 
50 per cent or more and thereby in the cheaper 
harvesting off the same acreage permit the cost 
per lb. of made tea to remain at the same figure, 
or under certain circumstances to be reduced. 
Yet there is a nemesis that invariably follows 
such action : firstly iu the drop in value of t?he teas 
owing to overproduction ; and secondly and more 
seriously in the slow but steady decline in quality 
of the crops grown by such means. 
This decline in quality so not at first noticeable 
bvjb in the second and tljifd year generally 
