584 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturisi" [Feb. 2, 1903. 
To harden tender shoulders and backs of animals, 
daily washing of the parts with au infusion of 
wattle or other tanning bark is recommended as 
a cheap and efficient treatment. 
The famous " Latakia " Tobacco, known as 
"Abou-Eiho," is so named from the district 
of Lattakio, in Syria, where the variety is 
principally grown. The chief peculiarity in 
its cultivation is that the plants, which are very 
clcsely planted, are hardly watered at all, and in 
the process of curing the leaves are made 
to absorb t\ie fumes of the resinous and scented 
wood called "Elozr." 
Among the reports of the Agricultural Depart- 
ment of Queensland we read in that the Manager, 
State Nursery, Kumerunga, under the head of 
Bananas ; — " Very little has been done beyond 
preserving the better varieties of these. A 
number have been distributed to applicants, and 
a small collection was despatched to Ceylon." 
These latter, consisting of varieties, were received 
for the Colombo Stock Garden, where they are 
doing well. 
The following recommendations given in the 
Queensland A ffriculturalJoicrnal for getting rid of 
the black ants, indicates how great a pest it is : — 
(1) Sprinkle shelves &c. with oil of penny-royal. 
(2) Wash with Carbolic soap. (3) Dissolve 
a piece of Ammonia, the size of a hen's egg, in a 
quart of water, and brush the shelves with it. 
(4) Pour gasoline into their nests (if outside) and 
set fire to it. (5) Lay carpet rug strings soaked in 
corrosive sublimate in their yath. (6) Make the 
following mixture: White lime (slaked) 6 quarts, 
kerosine oil | pint, turpentine 1 wine glass, soft 
soap 5 lbs., cowdung 3 quarts, water 16 quarts. 
This latter is for washing fruit trees. The 
preparation cf these remedies is troublesome 
enough, but after all we are told that none of 
them are permanent and will require repeating 
often ! 
The following recipe from the same paper is 
for making a cheap cooling' paint for iron 
roofing : — Take unslaked lime and slake it with 
sufficient water to cover it. Stir into it old brine 
from a salt beef cask or other source, sufficient 
to give the lime the consistency of oil paint. 
Strain before using and apply with au ordinary 
limewash brush, [How would this do for the 
dreadful Calicut tile in warm weather ? — 
Ed. a. M.] 
