840 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June 1. 1904. 
E resent, the amount of the element with 
igher atomic weight than that of tliorium 
would have to be proportionately increased. 
The high radio-activity would point to the 
presence of the elements obtained from 
thorium residues mentioned by Prof. Basker- 
ville, which he states to be radio-active. The 
equivalent was determined by comparing the 
weight of oxide from a known weight of 
oxalate with the percentage of oxalic acid, 
as determined by titration of another sample 
of the same preparation. 
William Ramsay. 
The letter dealing with the composition of 
a new mineral from Ceylon contributed 
by Sir W Ramsay to Nature of April 7, 
reveals certain discrepancies between the ana- 
lytical results obtained with this material at 
University College and those of the Scientific 
and Technical Department of the Imperial 
Institute recorded in Prof. Dunstan's letter 
on this subject (March 31.) Sir W 
Ramsay's results indicate that this mineral 
is practically free from thoria, whereas 
those recorded by Prof. Dunstan show that 
it is particularly rich in this oxide. As 
Prof. Dunstan is at present abroad, and 
therefore unable at the moment to comment 
on Sir W Ramsay's letter, I may be per- 
mitted to direct attention to two observations 
mentioned by Sir W Ramsay, which appear 
to be open to question. He states that the 
oxalate obtained from a solution of the 
mineral is soluble in excess of a solution of 
ammonium oxalate, and that this reaction 
excludes the presence of thorium or metals 
of the cerium group, and points to the 
presence of zirconium. This inference is not 
in harmony with the observation recorded 
by Bahr {Annalen, 1864, 132, 231). that 
thorium oxalate is soluble in excess 
of ammonium oxalate, a fact since confirmed 
by Bunsen and by Brauner (Journ, Chem. 
Soc, 1898, 73, 931). Further, the solubility of 
the thorium salt in excess of ammonium 
oxalate has been used by Hintz and Weber 
.{Zeit. Anal. Chem., 1897, 36, 27) and by Glaser 
{ibid., p, 213) as a method of separating thoria 
from monazite and similar minerals. It would 
appear, therefore, that the principal evidence 
brought forward by Sir W Ramsay in support 
of his conclusion that the mineral contains no 
thoria in reality supports Prof, Dunstan's 
statement that it is rich in this oxide. It may 
be added that the solubility of the oxalate 
obtained from the mineral in ammonium 
oxalate had already been observed in this 
Department. Sir W Ramsay appears to be 
of opinion that the principal constituent of 
the mineral is the oxide of a new tetravalent 
element with an equivalent of about 44-7. If 
this were the case the specific gravity of the 
mineral would probably be less than 8 2, 
whereas the determinations of this constant 
made here and at University College indicate 
that its specific gravity is about 9, and this 
figure agrees fairly well with that required 
for a mineral containing 75 per cent, of thoria, 
— T A Henry, Scientific andTechnical Depart- 
ment, Imperial Institute, S.W.— Nature 
COTTON-GROWING IN EGYPT. 
A CIECDLAE FROM MR. A. F. BROUN. 
A circular was placed on the Press table at the 
Secretariat from Mr A F Broun, Acting Director 
of Agriculture and I^ands, Soudan Government, 
being a report on proper cultivation of cotton by 
Mr G H Neville, Deputy Inspector of Af;ricaltnre 
in Egypt and Soudan. The report i3 practically a 
brief paper intended to guide native growers in 
Egypt and the Soudan in the proper method of 
cultivating and cleaning tbeir cotton and suggests 
how these small growers might dispose ot them, 
but it also sounds a warning note against export- 
ing inferior qualities and thus spoiling the 
country's reputation for good cotton. The opening 
paragraph is as follows : — Experiments so far made 
tend to show that cotton of Egyptian qualities will 
succeed in the Sor.dan and will bring higher prices 
per centar than indigenous species. Arrangements 
are being made to assist cultivators by establishing 
^agencies for the purchase of Egyptian qualities 
where the prices tkey are able to offer are attrac- 
tive to cultivators of indigenous cotton. Messrs. 
Carver's representatives are prepared this year to 
take the latter and export them, but it is con- 
sidered very undesirable that large quantities of 
this inferior cotton shall be exported as it will 
become known on the world's markets as * Sudan 
cotton' and buyers will be prejudiced against the 
superior cottons grown from other varieties classing 
them all together as ' Sudan cotton.' Cultivators 
should, therefore, be notified that they will receive 
uo further assistance in the disposal of indigenous 
cotton on the part of Goverumeulf in subsequent 
years. 
NEW STRAITS RUBBER COMPANIES, 
George and Sungei Puloh Estates on the 
Kampar Road managed respectively by Mr Irving 
an Mr Bell, have been bought by the newly 
formed Bukit Rajah Rubber Company, Limited. 
—Perak Pioneer, 
Vallambrosa. Marshalsea and Harvies- 
ton rubber estates in the F M S are 
said to be amalgamating under the name 
of the Vallambrosa Co., Ltd. There is no 
public issue, nor are any shares available 
for outsiders. The capital is £45,000 and 
for this the proprietors have over 1,000 
acres well established rubber (besides re- 
serve), a goed deal of which will be tapped 
in 1SW5. The prospectus states that the 
Directors do not care to commit them- 
selver to definite estimates of returns, but, 
assuming a moderate yield and a price of 
3s a lb., the profit per acre should Ibe not 
less than £30,— Straits Times. 
The Experiment Station at Ganga- 
ROOWA — according to the information we pub- 
lish on page 839 —is growing in importance. The 
number and variety of manurial experiments with 
cacao and tea alone are formidable ; but it will 
be seen that other minor products, beside Rubber 
— which is rapidly passing into a " leading" 
product, have not escaped attention. Mr. Herbei-t 
Wright's portion should be among the most in- 
teresting in the Peradeniya Administration Report, 
which we hope to receive very shortly. The 
foundations of Keientidc cultivation in Ceylon 
ate indeed being well and truly laid. 
