222 
Supplement to the ^'Tro2/tcul AyricuUurisi. 
Sept. 1, 1S99. 
20 years old, existing under the most arid' condi- 
tions were still yielding regularly large crops of 
fodder. A plant or two is cultivated near every 
cottage ill the ueighbourhood of Orotavu, and it is 
planted along the princixjal roads to afford foe d 
for the animals kept by the road labourer.^. 
The tugasaste evidently prefers a loose friable 
soil, for then, its roots can penetrate far into the 
eartli. It grows moderately well also in some- 
what clayey soils, but it is impatient of stagnant 
moisture. The climate where the tagasasie 
thrives best is mild and equable. Tne plant is 
well known not to bear frost, but on the other 
hand, it will probably bear considerable heat, and 
it might on this account be suited for most 
tropical and sub-tropical countries with a friable 
soil. As already stated the tagasaste is readily 
eaten by domestic animals. Cattle, sheep, goats, 
and pigs evidently thrive upon it. It is said not 
to be so suitable for hor.ses in the green state. 
This practically the only drawback to its general 
use when freshly cut. It makes, however, an excel- 
lent hay, and as a dry fodder or after being treated 
in silos its value is greatly increased. A sample of 
dried fermented tagasaste was forwarded to Keiv 
by Dr. Perez through Her Majesty's Consul at 
Teneriffe in 1886. It is said that in this state 
tagasaste is particularly palatable to both horses 
and ruminants. Another interesting point about 
tagasaste is that its flowers are frequented by 
swarms of bees, and it has already proved at the 
Cape and in Australia of great value to bee- 
keepers. The late Dr. Schombugk states that the 
tagasaste trees in the Botanic Garden at Adelaide 
" were covered with bees during the flowering 
season."' In countries with bare hilly tracts 
denuded of forest tagasaste should prove of the 
utmost value. It requires no irrigation, and once 
it is planted it lasts for :^0 years or more. When 
overgrown and cut down it yields excellent 
hre^vood. In very dry countries with light friable 
soils there is probably no plant that would so well 
repay cultivation as the tagasaste. 
■ ♦ 
GENERAL ITEMS. 
The Mangosteen is a native of Malacca 
(Straits Settlements) it is said that in 
the early days of the French occupation 
of Cochiii. China several naval officers who had 
been invited to the table of the Emperor 
Napoleon III. were unceasing in their praise of the 
delicious mangosteen, at that time unknown iu 
Europe. The curiosity of Her Majesty the Em- 
press Eugenie was aroused, and, wishing to taste 
for herself this famous produce of Cochin China, 
she requested an Admiral to accomplish the im- 
possible and to procure for her at least a dozen 
mangosteeiis. Great efforts were made, the icc- 
room of a man-of-war taking troops home was ap- 
propriated to the purpose, and out of several 
thousands of the selected fruit a hundred arriveO 
in good condition. 
The Eev. W. H. HoUister, of Kolar, in the 
Mysore province, has says the Indian Agriculturist, 
sent us a small pamphlet iu which he discu.<>es 
the "plough problem," and hopes that his endea- 
vours '■ will lead men of influence to adequate con- 
sideration of one of India's great needs." In the 
author's opinion a good jilough costing 15 to 
R!-. '20 will pay for itself in two j'ears and then be 
good for ten years' service, and a good plough 
drawn twenty-flve miles will accomplish as much 
as a coiiutry plough drawn 100 miles. Mr. Hol- 
lister then discusses the relative advantages of 
the improved and country plonghs and lays down 
the following propositions; Improved ploughs 
are an important factor in promoting general 
prosperity and preventing famine in India, for 
they will largely increase the productive areas, be- 
sides increasing the production of present culti- 
vated areas by bringing unused portions under 
actual cultivation, by destroying noxious weeds 
and grasses that cause many acres to lie waste or 
produce ^cant crops, and by improving the soil in 
many places. Other advuntuges claimed by the 
author for the improved plough are that the use 
of it will lead to improvement in the quality of 
the cattle and wilJ help directly in solving some 
famine problems. Mr. Hollister, proceeding to 
discut-s what should be the attitude of Government 
in this matter, makes some very sensible remarks. 
He says that Government action in this matter 
would be in perfect accord with its generous, hu- 
mane, and paternal eff irts for the people on other 
lines, and it is as legitimate a line for Government 
effort as are irrigation works. As to the efforts 
that Government maj' wisely make in this matter, 
the following are iome of the sugLjestions of the 
author of the pamphlet. («) Let careful and ex- 
haustive tests be made of all ploughs that appear 
likely to be of real value to ryots. The more 
meritorious should be brought to the notice of the 
people and be placed within reach of the more intel- 
ligent ryot, since these will use them to their best 
advantage ; (b) men of practical experience in 
agriculture and the use of ploughs should be ap- 
pointed Superintendents of circles of greater or 
less extent ; (c) during the infancy of the indus- 
try Government should manufacture ploughs iu 
such a manner as to reduce their cost to a mini- 
mum ; {d) Government should establish numerous 
depots. 
