Oct. 1, 1898.] Saijplement to the '• Tropical Agriculturist." 
2^5 
influence for the good of tlie community outside 
Jiis official are;i, wliere it is acknowledged he has 
done more for the sanitation of llio citj'' in the 
short time he lias been in office that any or all of 
his predecessors. In social circles both Mr. 
Davidson and Mr. Walker will be sorely missed, as 
both have gone out of tlieir way to provide 
instruction and recreation for the ma=se.=!, whose 
esteem and respect they have thus deservedly won. 
Philanthropic sentiments are rare now-a-days, 
parlicularly in officials, and we cnn therefore ill- 
afford to lose two such men as Jlessrs. Davidson 
and Walker. The School|of Agi iculture h s reasc u 
to i-emember them both for their help. 
We heartily welcome back Mr. A. F. Broun, 
Conservator of Foresis, after an alisence of some 
length from the Island. 
THE PLANTAIN TEEE AND ITS PRODUCTS. 
The late Mr. George Wall, writing about the 
Plantain tree in 1894, remarks tliat as regards 
varieties the Phillipines and tlie Indian Archi- 
pelago are richest, and, according to Moon, Ceylon 
comes ne.tt, with 47 varieties. He goes on to say 
that rich as the Island is in varieties, and though 
the list comprises some of the most delicious in 
flavour, and most productive and nourishing, 
Ceylon is far behind in the economic uses to v,'hicli 
the fruit is applied, as compared with several 
other countries. His object in writing, says Mr. 
Wall, is to draw attention, in the interests of 
Ceylon and its people, to several important pur- 
poses to which the fruit has not yet been applied 
here, and to the great extension its x)resent known 
uses miglit, with great advantage, be applied. He 
remarks that Ceylon is not over-abundantly sup- 
plied with either quantity or variety of food, 
and that it may bo said, as an additional supply, 
and as on agreeable variety of wholesome food, 
the bananas and plantains offer the greatest scope. 
Mr. Wall then goes on to refer to the opinion 
of Dr. Stanley and other authorities in the Indian 
Archipelago, British Guiana, and India, bearing 
testimony to the value of banana and plantain 
meal, and concludes with these words: "Such a 
Tariety of testimony leaver no doubt of the fact 
that in Ceylon we possess in the bananas and plan- 
tains, so abundant in supply, so cheap in price, 
and so delicious in flavour, not only a most remark- 
ably wholesome food, but a singularly effectin'e 
cure for indigestion, and a specially suitable food 
for infants and invalids." 
As regards keeping qualities Dr. Shier refers to 
the great superiority of the dried plantain over 
figs in keeping qualities and in immunity from 
insect ravages. Comparing dried apples and 
bananas, it was found that while apples yielded 
only 12 per cent of thier original weight, bananas 
with the skins removed, give within a fraction of 
25 per cent of thoroughly desiccated fiuir. 
Prof. Church, with fruit grown at Kew, obtained 
31'7 per cent of dry matter from ripe fruit. 
ATe were not aware when referring to the sample 
of plantain flour lately submitted to us as having 
been prepared by the chief clerk of the Anuradiia- 
pura kiichcheri, that this officer was identical with 
the late Secretary of the Grama Jlakshaha Snma- 
gama of piilugamo, iu which, curiously enough, 
Mr. George Wall took such a interest. We recall 
to mind a most interesting village show of agri- 
cultural produce, which Mr. Wall himself patro- 
nised, some years ago, a id whicii was an excellent 
model of vv-hat villnge shows should be. 
The sample referred to above has already been 
despatched toNew York, and we await with interest 
the opinion which the trade in America have to 
pronounce upon it. In the meantime we are 
anxiously looking forward to other samples of 
dried plantains and flour from Anuradliapura. 
CITRONELLA OIL. 
A subscriber has kindly placed tlse following 
information regarding Citronel^ grass at our dis- 
posal for the benefit of a correspondent from 
the Straits: — After Citronella grass is planted it 
usually takes one year for the first crop, but 
in good soil the first crop comes in in 9 months. 
In some districts, especially Weligama and 
Matara, where the grass is extensively grown, 
four crops can be counted on in one year, but 
three is the usual number. 
I am unable to say exactly what quantity of 
oil is got from 100 lbs, of leaf, but 100 bundles, 
of about 3 ft. circumference size each, will give 7 
to 10 bottles of 22 ounces. In this distillery 
we get 8 bottles per 100 bundles. 
The grass is phinted 1 to H ft. apart, and 
an acre, when fully planted, yields from 20 to 
25 bottles oil. 
After extracting the oil the leaves are spread 
on the land between the bushes to serve as 
manure; and this is generally the only return given 
to the land. When firewood is scarce, the ex- 
hausted leaves are used as fuel for heating the 
boiler of the distillery, in which case the leaves 
are lost to the land. 
There are two kinds of Citronella grass, viz., 
"Maha pangiri" and "Lenabatu pangiri." The 
first has soaiewhat broad leaves and the bushes 
formed are larger than the second, but it has 
been found that this variety dies off after 10 or 
15 years' cultivation. On this account it is hardly 
grown at all now, but some twenty-five years ago 
was the only cultivated variety, and "Lenabatu" 
was not known then. Maha pangiri, however, 
yields a larger percentage of oil. Lenabatu grass 
produces large crops under manure. The price 
of Citronella oil was RIO to R15 some twenty 
years ago, but it has been gradually decreasing 
and was brought very low by the adulteration 
of the oil with kerosine. Its value per bottle, 
of 22 oz., is now 80 to 90 cts. 
There is always a good demand for Citronella 
oil, and during the month (September) we have 
sold at 86 cts. per bottle. Even now the price 
varies o good deal, going as low os 70 cts. and 
rising again to R2 or R2 -50. 
We shall be glad for any further information 
which growers of Citronella will supply us with, 
for the benefit of our correspondent. 
^ 
THE CULTIVATION OF CHILLIES. 
Wo are induced to refer to this subject after 
having watched the result of chilli cultivation by ft 
planter, as a eatch crop in luud plimted wUll 
