Aua. 1, 1903.] Supplenwjf to the " Tropical AgricuUurist." 
Ul 
give the same unfavourable result, or whether the 
occurrence of the acid in the Queensland sample 
was due solely to its presence of the poison in the 
soil. 
We have just seen the following paragraph in 
an Exchange, and shall make enquiries as to the 
progress of the industry in Calcutta : — A firm of 
native merchants in Calcutta, who have been 
experimenting in the manufacture of banana flour 
have met with such success that according to 
the " Anglo-Indian Keview," they have ordered 
a complete plant for large production. There 
seems every prospect of a good trade in the 
industry. An analysis conducted by Mr, David 
Hooper, f.c.s., of the Indian Museum, shows 
that the Indian-made product contains about 
the same quantity of carbohydrates as the West 
Indian, and is about one per cent richer in albu- 
minoids. Its nutritious properties exceed that 
of arrowroot and other starchy food usually 
adminiateoed to invalids. 
COLOCASIA YAM. 
In our last number we had our attention 
directed to the subject of edible yams by Mr. 
George Wirekoon, Mudaliyar, and since then 
have been interested in a paper, treating of the 
rational methods of feeding infant?, invalids 
and dyspeptics, which laude the praises of this 
familiar tropical plant, so commonly grown and 
consumed by the natives of Ceylon, among whom 
it is known as "rata-habarala." In the West 
Indies it is known as " Tania," in the Hawaii 
Island, as "Tare," other names for it being 
eddoes " or " cocoes." 
We read, with reference to the tubers, that 
several analyses have been made by different 
investigators (cf. Bulletin No. 68, V. S. Depart- 
ment of Agriculture), and the results show that 
the carbo-hydrate and nitrogen contents render 
it a food which furnishea both proteids and 
starch at the same time. The large percentage 
of crude protein is of an albuminoid nature, 
consisting of a soluble albumen which coagulates 
at the body temperature — a fact which may account 
for the readiness and facility with which it is 
digested. From a dietetic point of view, therefore, 
it would appear that this vegetable offers many 
advantages over others. 
One special point which is said to be in favour 
of this Colocasia is that the mineral salts, so 
indispensable to the building power of food, 
and which in all cereal and grain foods are found 
in the indigestible husk, occur in the tubers 
along with the digestible constituents. 
The tubers are said to contain all the elements 
that go to build up a healthy body, and in a form 
that the weakest stomach can .digest and assimi- 
late. Being thus both a strong and at the same 
time a weak food, and possessing nothing in the 
way of irritating matter, but on the contrary 
possessing demulcent properiie.-, it is reckoned 
as a valuable diet for convalescent?, infants, 
iovalids and dyspeptics, 
So much for what the advocates of this humble 
plant have to say in favour of its being ustjfd 
either in the natural form, after boiling, or 
as a flour to which the name of " Tarena " has 
been given, 
Dr, Nicholls, in the Text-book of Agriculture 
says of the plant : — The tuberous rhizomes are as 
much as six or seven inches in diameter, and they 
contain a large proportion of starch which renders 
them very nourishing food. They are used as 
vegetables like potatoes, and make a most nutritious 
soup. An excellent starchy food, resembling 
arrowroot, may also be obtained by grating the 
tubers and washing out the starch. " Altogether," 
says Dr. Nicholls, " Colocasia Esculenta may be 
reckoned among the most valubale of the food 
plants of the West Indie?. Its tubers, as we 
have seen, are an important article of diet, its 
young leaves form a good green vegetable, its 
mature leaves make excellent fodder. " 
The Colocasia yam wants pushing' in Ceylon, 
and those who eat the boiled tubers once will 
always wish for more. Tliat has been our own 
experience. [In the West Indies the term Ymn 
is restricted to the various edible species of 
Dioscorea.] 
. — « 
KlUSHU PADDY OF .JAPAN. 
We have received from Mr. J. i'. William, tire 
well-known seedman of Henaratgoda, a small 
quantity of this paddy grown by him in the 
Veyangoda district. The seed was originally 
got throygh the United States Department of 
Agriculture. 
The advantages of the rice from this variety 
of paddy are stated to be (1) A large yield — 25 
to 30 per cent more than the best varieties ; (3) 
Harder grain, so reducing the percentage of 
broken grain from 30 or 40 to 3 or 5 per cent 1 
(8^ The straw remains green when the grain 
ripens, so that the former makes a very good hay; 
after the grain is cut- 
The plant is described as having a short stem, 
a thick kernel, and a thin husk. 
The seed is said to take a day or two more to 
germinate than local varieties, and to mature 
within 10 weeks from time of sowing. 
We are taking steps to give this new paddy a 
good trial in the Government Stock Garden. 
PRIZE LIST— HENARATGODA SHOW. 
June 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 1903. 
FRUITS. 
Jaffna Mangoes (12)— silver medal W H Daaseaaike, 
certincate Stephen Dias Bandaranaik?. 
Parrot Mangoes — silver medal not awarded. 
Heart Mangoes — silver medal W H JJassenaike, 
certificate J P Ranatuuge. 
Rupee Maugoes—silver medal Estelle Dias Ban- 
daranay.ke, certificate .lames de Z jysa. 
Mauritius Pineapples — oilver mjdal Dr W Dias, 
Kew Pineapples— silver meta' Dr VY Dias, certi- 
floftte D O i-'unchi Appuhami. 
Beat pineapple in the Show— silver medal Dr W 
Dias. 
Native pinjapples— silver mecl vl AraolU de Saram 
