368 
Supplement to the "Tfopiml AgricuUv/nst." [Nov. 2, 1903, 
the mortar and empty into a glass, the weight 
of which, together with ita contents, must be 
ascertained. Then pour so much water into the 
glass as will completely cover the soil, and which 
it cannot be expectisd to completely absorb. In 
twenty-four hours the superfluous water must be 
carefully poured off and the glass again weighed. 
The additional weight gives the percentage of 
water which the soil can take up. This power of 
water absorption reaches, in the cases of clay and 
humus, to 80 and 100 per cent. In the case of 
gravel and sand, it falls to 20 and 25 per cent, 
Mr. Semler recommends that these experiments 
should be made during dry weather, as the 
appearance of many soils is at such a season very 
deceptive. But experiments should be made both 
during a dry and a wet season. — Queensland Agri- 
cultural Gazette, 
MANIOC STARCH. 
The value of manioc as a source of starch 
is thus described by Prof. Archbald of Toronto 
University : — Maize starch has its own charac- 
teristics, which distinguish it from other starches. 
If a cheaper raw material be suggested for the 
production ot starch and allied products, it 
must yield them of the same quality. In the 
plant cassava we have a raw material which 
yields a starch of the highest purity, possessing 
all the characteristics of the maize product, 
the cost of production being \ that of the maize. 
Both the sweet {Manihot aiph) and the bitter 
varieties (Manihot utilissima) are equally import- 
ant sources of starch for edible and manufacturing 
purposes. Experiments made in Florida with 
fresh roots, the average percentage of starch 
was found to be 24 "To, and with Jamaica roots, 
26*23, the product obtained from several pounds 
of the root had all the characteristics of the 
best maize starch, and 4 per cent of cane sugar 
was recovered from the liquor. Compared with 
maize and potatoes, upon which practically the 
whole world depends for its supply of starch, 
the average yield of starch is as follows : — 
Maize 53; potatoes 18, cassava 25 per cent. An 
acre of ground yields 40 bushels of maize, 
which in turn yield 1,200 lbs. of starch, whilst 
the. same ground will yield 10 tons of cassava, 
yielding 6,720 lbs. of glucose and 5,000 lbs. 
of starch, and it is possible to reach a much 
greater amount. In Jamaica, 20 tonf! per acre 
could be grown with ease. 
With maize at 45 cents (Is. lO^d.) per bushel, 
the, crude starch frorn that source is li cents 
(|d.) per lb. With potatoes at 50 cents (23. Id.) 
per bushel, the unmanufactured starch is 5 cents 
(2id,) per lb, while cassava grown on a basis 
ot & or 10 tons per acre (as at Lake Mary, 
Florida, where the only complete cassava starch 
factory is situated) costs half a cent (^d.) per 
lb. in the uiiman,ufactur6d state. Ii'. is quite 
evident that cassava is the cheopest kiiown 
source of starch, costing a quarter as mncli its 
maizo starch. A plant has been devised by Prqfe§- 
sajvAr^ri'l^iiW, by means of whiph the wholp 25 per 
ci^t q£ 4''y starch ca,a be obtai^^d^ thi^ 
plant can be worked 25 per cent cheaper than 
the potato starch plant, the process being per- 
fectly automatic and continuous. The problem, 
then, of the cassava starch manufacture on a 
commercial basis may be considered solved. 
The plant will work up 100 tons of roots per 
day of 10 hours. The entire process only occu- 
pies three day;*, when the starch is ready for 
market, while maize, under the m3St favourable 
conditions, requires from 12 to 14 days. 
REMEDIES FOR TAPEWORM. 
The patient (dog, horse, cat) should be prepared 
beforehand for the administration of the medicine, 
so that the drugs may come easily into contact 
with the parasites and the latter pass out without 
difficulty. 
In the case of dog, horse, or cat, a fast of 18 
hours at least is advisable before the medicine is 
given, and previous to the fast it is often advisable 
to empty the bowels by means of a purgative. 
Some tapeworm medicines are themselves pur- 
gative ; such as ore not, must either be combined 
with a purgative, or the latter should follow the, 
medicine. A,.. i- ' ^ . ^.m'^-i 
The dose should be repeated in all animal^ 
in 2 or 3 weeks, or may be less. The medicines 
should be fresh. 
If the head of the worm does not get expelled, 
the disease with again recur, 
The foeces should be destroyed to preveut 
infection. The patient is therefore best kept 
in confinement during treatment,. 
Doff Medicines. — (1.) Arecaiiut, freshly pow- 
dered, 10 grains to 2 drama at most, the rule being 
2 grains for each pound of the dog's weight, 
to be administered after i8 hours' fast in butter, 
oil, cream or broth. Arecanut is astringent and 
should be followed after half an hour by a table 
spoonful of castor oil alone or in milk. Given 
to puppies without a purgative it is dangerous. 
Sound nuts should be procured and grated as 
required. 
(2.) Extract of male shield fern {Aspidium 
filiv-mas). — This is an excellent vermifuge. The 
dose is 10 grains to a dram. It may be com- 
bined with castor-oil, or with half a dose of 
arecanut and castor. The medicine acts in three 
to six hours, 
(3.) Tenaline. — The dose is 10 to 30 minims. 
The drug is the active principle of arecanut. 
(4.) 'Turpentine.— The drawback to tliis drug 
is the danger of iuflttmrnation of the stomach or 
kidneys following. The dose is, according to the 
age of the dog, from 10 minims to a dram, 
gireri in a full dose of castor-oil (^ to 2 oz.) 
(•".) Kousso orCusso. — This drug owes its pro- 
peri.idS to Koussin. It is one of the best and 
safest medicines for tapeworm, its action beirig 
'''-i^ctly toxic to the wor-m, but it is ruther 
•xirensive. The infusion and fluid extract are 
00 bulky and disagreeable. lu may be yiveu 
in C'lpsules in doses of 10 to 40 grains for tadults, 
and 10 to 20 for young animals. The. dose 
Bl^puld be foljiowed, by oilt ; : f.i)i(:T! 
