Feb. 1, 1899.] 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agriculturist.'" 
591 
of 'heir hosts. The c^w iu a state of nature 
enjoys a free and pure supply of air ; but 
man steps in, for his own benefit and welfare, 
takes her from her natural abode, and brings her 
under the influence of artificial conditions render- 
ing her liable to contract certain diseases of which 
tuberculosis is one. It is very necessary to give a 
cow at least 800 cubic feet of space. 
Teeding. — Tiic better the food supplied, the 
better the milk yielded. The water that is given 
to the cow should be fresh and p-ood ; and the 
usual way of watering cattle from ftagnant pouds 
and such places should be made prohibitory. 
The attenduiits of animals should be free from 
disease, and their personal cleanliness should be 
verj' much looked into ; for, if neglected, they may 
be the source of contaminating the milk. 
Milking Vessels should be kept scrupulously 
clean, and glassware should as much as possible 
be used in place of metal, but, if the latter, regular 
" tinning '' is very necessary. 
Milking sliould be carefully supervised. Tiie 
udder should be washed and tlie foremilk should 
be thrown away ; for it is found to be prolific in 
bacteria. If blood, &c , be found in milk, the 
animal should bo treated with suspicion, and the 
tuberculin test ap])lied. 
Adulteration. — When wateris mixed with milk it 
puzzles the chemist to properly ascertain the quan- 
tity added. Under any circumstances it lowers the 
nutrient ratio of it. As liefore stated, if the added 
water be pure there is no danger to be ap])rehended. 
The only possibility of securing unwatered milk 
is by patronising honest men to carry on dairying 
and p'lying them a good price for the genuine 
article. 
Despatching. — The usual system of carrying 
milk iu an open vessel is pernicious, and the use 
of airtight vessels f^r such purposes is much to be 
desired; for, the various bacteria that float in (he 
atmosphere not only find a suitable medium for 
their growth in milk, but secure easy access into 
the human system. 
The last and not the least important precaution 
to be adopted in dealing with milk is to thorough 
boil it before use, particularly when it is to be used 
by infants and invalids. 
D, A. CHINNIAH, 
Veterinary Surgeon 
NOTES OX CEYLON PEODUCTS- 
(1) The following reports on food stuffs are by 
Prof. A. H. Church, M.A., P.H..S., Scientific referee 
of the Imperial Institute: — 
CYANOTIS axillaris, RoEM, and SCHULTF.a. 
Vernacular. — Nirpulli, Tarn.; Soltraj, IJaghanulla, 
Hind.; Itsaka, Bomb. 
This annual, whicli belong.s to theN.O. Commeli- 
nacece, is common in many parts of India. Though 
anything but jjnuni^^ing in appearance it has been 
used as fooil in times of famine. The seeds are 
spongy and li;;ht; 100 weigh only four grai:>8. 
The sample received was largely charged with 
earthy matter which it was iujpracticable to 
remove entirely. 
These percentages were obtained : — 
Water ... ... ... H 5 
Albuminoids (from total nitrogen) 13-9 
Starch, etc. (by difference) ... 64-1 
Oil 05 
Fibre ... ... ... 3-1 
Ash (includes some sand) ... 6 9 
The nutrient ratio is here 1 : 4-6, the nutrient 
value 79. By the plienol method 1'2'22 per cent, 
of albuminoids was shown. 
x\fter all, these poor-looking seeds possess a 
good nutrient-ratio and a fair alimentarj' value. 
Indigofera likifolia. Retz. 
Vernacular. — To rki, Rind, and Punjab; Bhan~ 
gra, Beiig.; Tandi khode baha, Sanral ; Burburra 
Pandhari pale, Bhangra, Torki, Bomb.; Pandht 
Nasik ; Jawarich, malmandi, Kaladgi, Bomb. 
The seeds of this common kind of wild indigo 
are eaten in times of scarcity and famine. They 
are a little smaller then those of I. glandulosa. 
The percentages obtained were : — 
Water ... ... ... 9.3 
Albuminoids (from total nitrogen) 34 3 
Soluble carbohydrates (by difference) 43-4 
Oil 3 0 
Pibre ... ... ... 60 
Ash ... ... ... 3.5 
The nutrient-ratio is here 1 : 1'47 ; the nutrient- 
value is 84. The phenol method showed 32-2 per 
cent, of albuminoids. 
(2) Notes on ground nuts (Arachis hypogosa) 
known as " Pindars " inJamaici*: from a report 
by Dr. Watts:— 
Although "pindars" are consumed freely in 
Jamaica, and are imported to a fairly large e.ttent 
the cultivation of the seeds in the island itself has 
not yet reached the proportions that would 
naturally be expected in a country where the soil 
climate, aiid general conditions are so favourable' 
At present these nuts are consumed more as a 
lu.xury than as a regular article of food, though 
they form a most wholesome addition to the 
dietary, and their cultivation might well become 
an important industry. The oil which they con- 
tain is known to be quite suitable for manv of the 
purposes for which olive and cotton-seed oils are at 
present imported. The residue left after the ex- 
pression of the oil is of considerable value, and 
may be used as a cheap article of food. 
The sample nuts, as purchased, yielded about 67 
per cent of seeds, -which, when pressed in a small 
hydraulic press, furnished — 
31.5 per cent Oil of first quality 
5-0 percent Oil of second quality 
54 -8 per cent Cake or Meal 
8.7 per cent Loss inhanding, etc. 
An analysis of the " pindar " meal gave tha 
following results : — 
Water ... ... 9-72 per cent. 
Oil ... ... .5'68 „ 
Starches and digestible carbohy- 
drates ... ... 36-08 „ 
Protein ... ... -iO Oo „ 
iSitrogenons matter other than 
proitin ... ... ]-07 „ 
Crude fibre, iiidigtstible carboliy- 
drates ... ... S'S-T „ 
Mineral matter ... ... 3 i>4 
