May 1, 1903.] 
THE TROPICAL 
AORICCJLTUEIST. 
751 
ground, and oh years of ,ac;e. The incision 
was made at a height of about 4 feet (the 
height of the first branch, we- may mention, 
was nearer 7 feetll, in a V-shape, and the 
rubber latex flowed freely into the cup fixed 
at the foot of the V. Making the incision in 
thisfashion, onegets the rubhei toflow well and 
the cut does not dry up quickly. Another com- 
mon method is the herring-honing, in which 
a long central cut is made, perpendicularly, 
and then parallel incisions are made sloping 
into the ci^ntral one ; but in tliis case the 
channels are foimd to be ton small and 
numerous and to dry up too quickly. The 
ideal instrument for making the incisions has 
yet to be found and something of the nature 
of a chisel has boen mostly used so far ; the 
tool should be .i sort of gouge that would 
be pulled rather than pressed along the line 
of incision, the sharp portion being just deep 
enough to pierce the bark (which shall pass 
Under the knife blade as it is cut) and not in- 
jure the inner wood. There is another kind of 
chisel-knife, with a double handle which is 
pulled along in cutting the bark ; from its 
majie it requires less energy to handle. It is 
from the bark, of course, that the latex flows. 
« 
DOCTORING TREES. 
A new method of feedinji trees and plants 
without the agency of tlie roots has been discovered 
by the well-known entoinolo^jist MSA Mokrs- 
hezki, who lias explained his discovery in a 
lecture before the Imperial Botanical Society. He 
has invented an apparatus by which he can in- 
troduce into the stems of apple and pear trees 
Baits of iron, either in the form of a so'id or in 
solution. The effect of the chemicals is, on the 
ene hand, completely to cure the tree of clilorose 
and on the other, to atinnilate its growth in an 
important def,'iee. Among other extensive re- 
searches the scientist has applied his theory to 
800 fruit trees growing on the .southern shore of 
the Crimea. By introducing ilry sulphate of 
copper into the stems he produced an unusual 
development of the trees, as many photographs 
testified. M Mokrsiiezki considers that in this 
way the size of a fruit tree can be increased, 
its colour improved and varied, and its diseases 
removed. The discovery opens up a wide field 
of practical utility, and is regarded as most 
important. — Indian Daily Neivs, March 26. 
RAINBOW TROUT liN CEYLON. 
(To the Editor, Indian Field.) 
Sir, — Can any of your Ceylon correspondents 
furnish information of the success or otherwise 
attending the introduciion of " Rainbow Trout " 
into the Island ? Up hare in South Sylhet we 
have small streams admirably suited for trout of 
all kinds, and on the northern side of the valley 
there is a pretty little fellow runniux about 2 to' 
2J lb; a true trout. The upper part of the body is 
light sepia coloured, the under .-silver, but wiiere 
these hues blend into one another thera are three, 
sometimes four, longitudinal streaks of brighi blue 
spots ; the upper part is also speckled but with 
darker spots than the back ground. It is a hand- 
some lish generally found in bright pools : can 
you idenlify it? It will rise to the black lly but 
a siwon or anything bright or glittering is ignored. 
Is this the rainbow 
Mulvee, 9th March 1903. 
— Indian Field, March 26. PiSCiVTOR. 

FINE GROWTH OF PASPALUM GRASS. 
Ad ioterestinfi; record of Golden Crown ^i-aaa 
(Paspalum' growth is contributed to the Gosford Times 
(New South Wal8.=) by a ooireapondent, who writes ; 
— " Off 30 square yards li,aJ under the abovo £»ra3s I 
took 150 lb. of dried hay (which would be nearly 
11 tons par acre), being tho second catting this 
season, and will probably get as mach from the third 
cutting. This piece of laud has never been manured. 
What other grass '\3 there iu cultivation will do aa 
much and then keep green all through the winter ? 
Granting that this particular piec& of land is well 
suited for it, say,. that an average acre of land would 
produce 3 tons per cutting — 3 cuttings per season, 
y tons — which any ordinary land about Goaford 
can do, why grow couch > Both grass and hay 
(chaffed) are well suited for the cattle, improving 
the milk and butter y\e\A."—3IeIbnurne Leader 
March 7. 
MALARIA AND MOSQUITOES. 
GOVERNMENT COMPETITION : UOMnAY PRESIDENCY. 
- Bombay, March 19.— In accordance with a re- 
cent Government Resolution requesting the Sur- 
geon-General with the Government of Bombay to 
furnish detailed proposals to give effect to the 
wishes of the Government of India that measures 
should be organised by private enterprise for the 
prevention of the spread of malaria by mosquitoes, 
a statement on the subject is juihli.'^hed in today's 
Government Gazette in which the Surgeon-General 
"points that whilst all Civil Surgeons express their 
readiness to promote organisations for the des- 
truction of mosquitoes, so far as their time and 
opportunities will allow, the majority report that 
the collection of funds for this purpose from 
Muni^'ipalities or private individuals is uncertain 
and that they eaonot hope to arouse much interest 
in the matter on the part of the inhabitants. On 
consideration of the views expressed by the Surgeon 
General, the Government of Bombay have decided 
to offer four prizes of R400, R300, R200 and RlOO, 
for a year's observation on the distribution and 
habits of mosquitoes in any of the towns and 
villages mentioned iu the Surgeon-General's letter. 
The competition is not restricted to Government 
servants.— P)o/ieer, arch 21 
THE.CAMPHORTREE IN HUNAN. 
March 10. — Formosa, which has hitherto been 
tlie chiel supplier of the world in regard to camphor, 
will soon have a greit rival in Hunan province, 
the soil of Hunan has now been found to ba well 
suired for the extensive cn'.tivali;'ii of the camphor 
tree, and the inhabitants are enthusiastically plant- 
ing it everywhere they can. A Cli'anjisha, capital 
of Hunan, dispatch states tliat theve are innumer- 
able camphor tiees several teet in diameter iu ihe 
porovincc and ir is expected that with care the pro- 
vince will soon be able to export annually several 
thousand piculs of the stuff. — A'. C. Herald, ALsr. 12. 
