440 
Supplement to the "tropkal AgriculturisV [Dec. 1, 1903. 
a bullock with only six permanent incisors will 
become rich enough to keep an elephant." 
A bullock which cuts only seven permanent 
incisors is unlucky to the owner. The saying is 
that one who purchases such a bullock should 
have his cofSa ready. 
NOTE ON A COMMON FIBEB PLANT. 
A correspondent, writing to us on a matter 
of business, asks if sufficient encouragement is 
being given by the local authorities for develop- 
ing the indigenous resources of the Island. He 
says that enough is not being done to make the 
most of what already exists, and too much atten- 
tion is given to what is new and foreign. He 
instances the case of fibres, and asks why attempts 
are not made to encourage the cultivation of 
fibre plants already found growing in the Island. 
We quite agree with our correspondent that 
much more might be done in the way of growing 
such plants as Crotalaira Juncea, the Sunn Hemp 
of India and Hana of Ceylon. The fibres are 
used to a fairly large extent in the manufacture 
of fishing netp, and for this purpose it is culti- 
vated in parts of the Island, as, for instance, the 
Chilaw district. We have little doubt that the 
plant would be more largely cultivated if the 
people were made aware of the fact that there 
is more than a local demand for the fibre. 
Not long ago the Burman Government sent a 
two pound sample of the fibre to the Imperial 
Institute with a request that the report on the 
fibre might include its value in the London 
market, together with any remarks that could be 
given as to how the quality of the fibre could be 
improved. 
Mr. CoUyer, the fibre expert, stated that the 
fibre should sell freely in the London market, 
and that its cultivation should be encouraged as 
much as possible. In his opinion the sample was 
strong, bold and clean, though of a somewhat 
dull colour, its length varying from 36 to 40 
inches. He fixed the value of the fibre as 
represented by the sample sent £16 to £17 per 
ton, but advised that it should be better cleaned 
than the sample, and should also be brighter in 
colour; and added that if more carefully pre- 
pared, its value would be from £2 to £3 per 
ton higher than the price quoted, 
Messrs, Puddy & Co. confirmed by independent 
reference to the statements of Mr. Collyer. 
They find the fibre to be of fair quality, 
and state that it might be brighter and longer 
with advantage; but that it is saleable in the 
London market, and that if they had at the 
present time a shipment on hand, they could 
secure £16 to £16 10s. per ton for it. 
The late Sir Frederick Abel had the fibre ex- 
amined in detail by the comparative process 
adopted in the Research Department of the 
Institute, and this examination went to confirm 
the opinion expressed by the practical experts in 
regard to the good quality of this fibre. 
HOW TO GET EIl> OP TICKS ON CATTLE. 
The following is taken from a report of the 
proceedings of the Jamaica Agricultural Society 
held on February 21 last : — 
The Hon. Oscar Marescaux gave an interesting 
account of the method successfully adopted by 
him to get rid of ticks on cattle. ' I am pleased,' 
he said, ' to see that the Agricultural Society 
are seeking information as to the possibility of 
destroying the plague of ticks which renders our 
island a pest to ourselves, to our friends and 
visitors, and especially to our animals ; and as 
I have succeeded in ridding my property of the 
pest, you may like to know how this has been 
done. 
'Cherry Garden in St. Andrew consists of 
nearly one thousand acres of land — gentle slopes, 
— mountain sides — some cultivation, but prin- 
cipally grass lands. I have cattle and liorses, 
from 80 to a hundred of the former and 8 to 10 
of the latter. You can or any lady can walk 
over any part of the property — short bite, Guinea 
grass, gullies, ruinate — without picking up a tick, 
and my stock are free from them, though occa- 
sionally a weak cow may be seen with a few 
which are at once destroyed. 
' Some years ago ticks were a plague on Cherry 
Gardens, and I determined to get rid of them. 
My cattle were constantly driven in the pen, and 
there the cattle men and boys were made to pull 
off the ticks, placed them in a calabash, and when 
nearly full to burn them in a fire kindled in the 
pen for the purpose. It was a tedious job to get 
my people to do this. They all believed it was 
useless work, for the ticks came out of the ground. 
For a long time little impression was made on 
the appearance of the cattle, but little by little 
the ticks were less and less numerous, and now, 
as I have said before, the place is pratically free, 
from them. 
' I was informed that the tick will not 
reproduce unless he has sucked blood. I, there- 
fore, aimed at burning all those who had thus 
feasted. The tick does not travel — the fertilized 
female drops from her prey, and has her young, 
commonly known as grass lice. When she drops, 
these grass lice climb up a grass stalk and cluster 
up at the top like bees. If a living creature in 
passing brushes close to them, they soon scramble 
over it, and endeavour to feed on it ; but if 
nothing disturbs them they simply die. 
' The process I have adopted is tedious, especi- 
ally on account of the passive resistance of the 
people one employs ; but it is efficacious, and I 
hope you may induce others to adopt it.' 
Mr. Fawcett stated that his experience was, in 
districts where Indian cattle were bred, the ticks 
were less. Ticks did not attack Indian cattle 
when they were in good condition, as much aa 
other breeds of cattle. 
Dr. Pringle said he had adopted a similar 
method to that followed by Mr. Marescaux j and 
with success. Ticks were now very much less 
on his properties than they were two years ago, 
It was a very good plan, 
