62 THE TROPICAL 
viKOroua that sometimes the graft appears more 
vigorous than the stem ; there is every indication 
of great vital forcC) hemileia does not appear at all, 
the joining is perfect. 
But, as I have said above, the hybrids -which I 
have seen show a large proportion of empty berries 
or of beans imperfect and spoilt, j possess different 
hybrids ; there are some which produce, so to speak, 
not a single healthy bean. Most of my plants, 
flourish vigorously, their foliage is fine, every year 
they are surcharged with fruit ; without esception 
they furnish berries with soft pulp, equally easy to 
depulp with Java coffee. For some years it was 
.(.believed that the hybrid "Klein Getas" (van Riem- 
s sdijk) constituted a happy exception and produced 
u at the sametime beans abundant and healthy. I 
tcrecognise willingly that the berry of that hvbrid is 
k little more valuable than of the others which I 
h know, and that the development of the plant is 
• perfect. Nevertbless, it is not free from the great 
general fault, it gives too many sterile berries, "loos 
boon," and too many imperfect beans, nearly without 
selling value. 
However, since variations are observed between 
hybrids, that is to say, that some furnish fewer 
abortive beans than others, I think it is justifiablo 
to hopa that the hybrid is susceptible of improvs- 
ment. Further, that it is not impossible to obtain 
some day a hybrid that reunites the desired qualities 
— a well constituted beau and a vigoroas growth. 
There would bo nothing for it, therefore, than to con- 
tinue to propagate by means of grafts upon Liberia." 
In the rest of his discourse M, van Lennep in- 
sisted upon the point, that in order to increase the 
chances of attaining the desired end, it nould 
be necssary not to abandon hybridisation to the 
chances of nature, but to undertake, on the contrary, 
methodical experiments in attificial hybridisation. 
M. van Lennep had projected the creation of an 
establishment specially directed to that research, but 
the necessary official sanction was not obtained. 
M. Maxima Oornu; the emiaeatProfesseur da Museum, 
■ has kindly communicated to us, says the Revut des 
^"'Cultures Coloniales, the following observations apropos 
" 'of the preceding note : — 
" Botanists have long recognised the general 
sterility of hybrid plants ; they have also con- 
sidered that sterility was a fundamental char- 
acter of hybridity ; but the experiments of certain 
Bcientific men, and above all the repeated operations 
• of hortioulturalists f'who work without troubling 
"themselves with theories) have shown that that pro- 
• position is too absolute. 
" The illustrious Darwin was remarked that fertility 
among hybrids is a charcter which is acquried in suc- 
cesive generations obtained by the force of 
successive sowings. 
" That method is a lengthy one, but continued with 
^■BOience and sagacity, it may give important results. 
■ It should, however, be assured, in the first place, 
that the hybrid taken in hand really merits so much 
persevering attention, that it possesses beans of 
sufficient quality as well as a complete resistance to 
f^hemileid, 
c ■ " Hybrids are far from necessarily possessing 
similarity between themselves ; they may differ en- 
ormously one from the other and present altogether 
distinct individualities. They possess, in divers degrees, 
the characters of the parents ; bat these characters 
are sometimes mingled, sometimes juxtaposed. One 
■ •may then hope, one day to obtain a form of hybrid 
which possesses the qualities of Xhe two parents, 
for example, the robustness of Cqffeu liberfa with the 
fine flavour of the Arabica. We should not be 
discouraged therefore. 
' '■ "In order fo assure ousselves, hybrids should be 
••'observed in large numbers in a systematic mi,nner, 
and studied individually. It. is neceesary to make 
reiterated experiments." 
M. Cornu considers these esperiments should be taken 
IB hand by Government, as private persons have 
-jieither the leisure nor the fa ;CilitieB for such lengthy 
and uncertain operations.— i/jPi«n«}»c; Opinion. 
AGEICULTURIST. [April 2, 1900 
HOUSEHOLD HINTS. 
S^EET Pjt.vtoes m^ke fine potato-chips if used just 
as common potatoes are. To fry them after they are 
cooked, cut in slices, dip in eggs and bread crumbs 
and fry aij oysters. To make croquettes of sweet 
potatoes, take three te-acupfuls of mealy baked pota- 
toes, a table-poonful of butter, a teaspoonful of lemon 
juice, the yolk of one egg. a gill of milk and salt 
and pepper to taste. Work all t igether thoroughly 
with a fork, then form into round cake?, dip iu egg 
and crumbs and fry in smoking fat. If sweet pota- 
toes are boiled for dinner, boil half a dozen more 
than will ba needed and then prepare them with a 
hot dish for tea, in the following way ; — When cold, 
peel them Rnd cat into long slice?, about half an 
inch in thickness. Place the slices on a shallow dish 
that has been well-buttered, dredge lightly with flour, 
sprinkle over tliem two tablespoonfuls of sugar and 
half a teaspoonful of ground cinnamon, then a little 
more flotir and last of all some bits of butter and 
a cupful of milk. Cover and cook in a moderate 
oven until done, then remove the cover and crown 
slightly. A sweet potato pie is a fine thing if rightly 
made and the following is a good recipe: — Mash 
enough boiled potatoes to make a cupful. To this 
add a heaping table-spoonful of sugar, one of butter, 
a pinch of salt, half a teaspoonful of lemon juice 
and a cup and a half of uiilk. Bake with one crust 
and put a meringue over the top in the usual way, 
being sure to add a few drops of lemon juice to it. 
* * # « « 
An Easy Wav to Clean Blankets. — Shave a bar of 
pare soap Ihin, put it in a small saucepan, cover well 
with water, and set over ttie lire to melt. Stain 
through a colander into a tub half-full of rain -water, 
to which add half a pound of powdered borax. Stir 
this mixture thoroughly, and put t-.vo or three blankets 
in ; let soak over night. In the morning stir the blan- 
kets with a stick, lifting up and down, but do not rub. 
When clean, and free of stains, press the suds from 
them, and put into a tub of clean luke warm water, 
rinse and pour off the water, add more, and rinse 
until clean. Then shake a squeeze, but do not wring. 
Hang the blankets on a strong clothes line, and let 
dry. When rpady to take down, fold, sprinkle with 
powdered borax to keep away moths, and lay in a 
drawer or box. Blankets thus washed will not shrink, 
and will remain white and soft until worn out. 
Cinnamon has a marked antiseptic power. Even the 
scent of it is said to be fatal to microbes. A de- 
coction should be taken freely by persons living in 
places affected with typhoid fever or cholera. 
Virtues of Buttermilk. — The growing practice of 
utilizing the waste products of all manufactures has 
brought out the fact that butter milk possesses many 
unsuspected qualities. A medical paper says its re- 
utation as an agent of superior digestibility has f 
ecome firmly established. It is, indeed, a true milk j 
peptone — that is, milk already partially digested, the 
coagulation of the coagulated portion being loose ' 
and flaky and not of that firm, indigestible nature jj 
which is the result of the action of the gastric juice H 
upon sweet cow's milk. It is of great value in the jj 
trsatment of typhoid fever, and, being a decided lax- 11 
ative, it may bs turned to advantage in the treat- il 
ment of habitual constipation. It is no less valuable |j 
in kidney troubles, from its diuretic qualities. It is I 
in great request for the treatment of diabetes, either (I 
alone or alternately with skimmed milk, and in cases 
of gastric ulcer and cancer of the stomach it can 
often be retained when no other food can. Chemical 
analysis shows that in its nature it greatly resembles 
koumiss, with the exception of which it is the most 
grateful, refreshing and digestible of the products ) 
of milk. Moral, make your own butter and drink J 
the butter milk. 
* * # * * ^ 
Some Godn Coolino Dkinks.— Currant Shrub.— To i 
one pint currant juice add three pints cold water i 
and sugar to taste ; chill with ice. Lsmon, Tea.— ^ 
Squeeze all the juice from one lemon, add sugar and ■ 
