Dec. i, 1902] Supplement to the "Tropical AgricuUm isV^ 
433 
putation, but two months afterwards he was 
in tha field superintending his labourers with 
a sound and apparently strong-limb. For the 
truth of this statement I can vouch, having 
seen the battered arm, and also seen the man after 
recovery." 
The name of the above authority is not 
stated, but we may take it for granted that 
the account is perfectly reliable, seeiug that it 
has been accepted by the Editors. 
Dr. Watt, in his Dictionary of Economic Products 
of India, makes reference to Litsea chinensis, 
Stating that the bark, which is feebly balsamic 
and mucilagenous, is one of the best known 
and most popular native drugs. In India, besides 
being employed as a demulcent and mild astrin- 
gent in diarrhoea and dysenery, it is said to 
be used fresh ground with water or milk as 
an emolient and applied to bruises, as well as 
a styptic for wounds. Further, we are tcld 
that it is a local anodyne for venomous bites. 
(Watt mentions that L. zeylanica, our " wild 
Cinnamon" and the Sinhalese dawulkurundu [is 
also used for snake bite.) The oil from berries 
Z. chinensis is employed in India as an oint- 
ment for rheumatism, while in China and Java 
candles are made from it. 
Mr. E. Hoole, of Kandy, is good enough to write 
to us with reference to this tree : — The tree is 
found growing in the Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, 
and the coolies there seem to be aware of its 
medicinal properties, The bark, which is glu- 
tinous, is used as an external npplication to brui. es 
and fractures — generally after being made into 
a poultice with the flour of kurakkan {Eteusine 
coracana). 
In the list of drugs (with their uses) pre- 
pared for the Paris Exhibition, this tree is 
referred to, and it is stated that the bark is 
used in dislocations ; also in bruises to produce 
dispersion of extra vasated blood. 
Dr. O'Shaughnessy, in his Bengal Dispen- 
satory and Phxirmacopaa (1841) speaks of 
the bark as a favourite application to bruises 
and wounds. Here then is a tree the 
medicinal properties of which are well wortliy 
the attention of local medical men. As a 
means of studying native treatment we would 
go the length of advocating the appointment of a 
recognised " Vederale " as a " Professor of Native 
Medicine" on the staff of the Medical College ! 
A specimen of Litsea chinensis may be seen in the 
grounds of the late School of Agriculture, Flower 
Road. 
« — . ^ 
miCKLY-PEAE AS FOODER FOR CATTLE 
DURING SCARCITY. 
We seem to have overlooked what is a decidedly 
useful report on the value of Prickly-pear as a 
"Famine Food" for Cattle. The use of this other- 
wise pestiferous weed for feeding stock has been 
the subject of a good deal of discussion in 
agricultural papers, but a report founded on 
actual experiment in India gives us all the informa- 
tion we could desire as to the possibilities of the 
plaut as a fodder under tropical coaditioiis, 
The Prickly-pear {Opuntia Dillenit) is generally 
known as the " Cactus, " and is not so 
common in the moist as in the dry districts, 
where it occurs in abundance near the coast. 
It is called " Xatu-pathok " by the Sinhalese, 
and " Naka-kali " by the Tamils. In the North- 
ern Province, where it is said to be a nuisance, 
there should be abundant opportunity for repeat- 
ing, if necessary, the trial of the plant as 
a fodder in times of drought. 
The Director of Land Records and Agriculture, 
Bombay, referring to the use of Prickly-pear 
as food for milch cows says: — "The experiment 
of feeding pampered milch cattle was a failure. 
Their milking qualities could not be kept up. . . . 
The animals, however, ate enough of the pears to 
prove that they could be kept alive on it." 
We might, therefore, omit any further reference 
to its use for feeding milking stock, for indeed 
ic is not for such animals that the question 
of a famine fodder arises. But the following 
details given by the Superintendent of Farms, 
Bombay, are worth carefully reading: — 
I have the honour to report that the experiment 
directed by you to test the value of prickly-pear as 
a cattle food, has been completed. I am glad 
to be able to report favourably as to its undoubted 
value as an auxiliary cattle food in famine times. 
An experiment was begun on the 19th February 
at the Poona Farm which did not prove satis- 
factory. An attempt was made to feed a cow 
and buffalo, both in milk, on it. These cattle, 
although not yielding much milk at the time, 
were previously liberally rationed, and naturally 
did not take kindly to the change. They had 
iterally to be starved before either the one or the 
other would taste the pear. The pear was chopped 
very fine, mixed with dal husk, bran, and a little 
salt. The buffalo took the food first, but only 
after 30 hours' stinting. Neither the cow nor 
buffalo ate it greedily. The experiment was 
continued four days. Meantime, the cow gave 
milk regularly, but only about one-fourth of her 
usual quantity. Tiie buffalo got irritable, then 
savage, and refused to give any milk at all. The 
cow when allowed her ordinary food soon gave her 
usual quantity of milk. The buffalo has since 
given less than her normal yield, and is now nearly 
dry. However, it is proved that milch cattle 
in high condition can, by severe stinting be made 
to eat prickly-pear. 
On the 26th February an experiment was begun 
at the old Botanical Gardens, Ganesh Khind, with 
three cattle ranging in age from 18 months to 
2 years. The condition and feeding of these 
cattle did not differ from ordinary rayats' stock. 
They had previously been allowed a fair allowance 
of hay at night, and were grazed on rather bare 
pasture during the day. They were all in fair 
thriving condition. Two were buffalo heifers, tha 
third was a young bull out of a small Deccani 
cow. Their aggregate weights were 942 lbs. 
The experiment was continued 32 days. 
The implements used, in preparing the pear, 
were identical with those sold in Bellary at 2 
annas per set. The set consists of a rude hoop 
iron knife, a hoop iron tongs, and a pair of 
pincers fashioned like a sugar tong. Bicb li^b 
