6io 
Supplement to the "Tropical AgncuHudst.'^ [February i, 1892. 
many important food materials, as well as other 
industi-ial products. 
" In conclusion, it will be seen that the experi- 
mental results which have been brought forward 
constitute only a small proportion of those already 
obtained or yet to be obtained at Eothamsted, but 
they have been selected as being to a great 
extent typical, and illustrative of the lines of 
investigation which are being carried out." 
SOME PITH-PKODUCING TEEES. 
The sola Tree {Acschynoynene aapera) belongs 
to the order leguminosoe, and is known among 
the Sinhalese as Maha-deya-seyembala ; another 
member of this family in Ceylon being Acschy- 
nomene Indica (deya seyembala). Both are com- 
mon in the warmer parts of the Island, and 
affect marshy land. Tlie pith is much used in 
various parts of India for manufacturing hats, 
bottle cases, &c., especially the former, sola 
being a bad conductor of heat. The material 
for manufacture is cut from the thick stems 
and is also made up into artificial flowers and 
various ornaments by the natives, such as models 
of temples, fishing floats, &c. The larger plants 
are particularly light and spongy ; they are 
gathered during April and May. 
The Malays use the pith of Scoevola taccada 
(Sin. Taccada) for making artificial flowers, &c. , 
in the same way as sola is used. 
The pith of Aralia papyrifera, the rice-paper 
plant of China, resembles sola pith, but it is 
much finer and whiter. The pith of Aralia is 
used for drawing paper, and has been employed 
by entomologists for lining the drawers of their 
cabinets. 
Mr. William Ferguson, in his paper on Ceylon 
Timber Trees, refers to Aschynoinene ai^pera and 
M. Indica, and mentions that sola hats &c. 
are made from " a spongy substance generated 
on the stems of these plants when growing in 
water, as they generally do." 
It may be mentioned in passing that Enjthrina 
Indica (Sin. Erabodu) a common leguminous 
hedge plant (used, as well, as a shade tree for 
young cocoa) also produces a light spongy wood 
which is used for making models, floats, bungs, 
as well as toys, especially dolls. It is this latter 
use it is put to that has given it the name of 
"Mootchee wood" in India. 
Mr. Ferguson informs us that Aralia Papyri- 
fera, the rice-paper plant was introduced into 
Ceylon, and that several plants of it were 
growing in his time in the Fort garden. The 
same writer mentions Maha-takkada (Scosvola) 
as a seaside plant from the large white pith 
of which ornaments are made. 
The substance commonly called " pith," it will 
l)e seen, is not always got from that part of the 
plant known botanically as the pith or medulla. 
The word pith (for instance in the name pith- 
liat) ratlier signifies a soft spojigy material re- 
Bembliiig the dry dead cells generally found in 
centre of the stems of trees, 
It is not generally known that the pith of 
th'- <\c:i li-mymihahi has been utilised in Ceylon 
iu Ihu" mauufacturc of pith-lmts. Mr. Murray, 
the Assistant Government Agent of Hambantota, 
started the industry of pith-hat making in the 
Hambantota jail about four years ago, and he 
succeeded in manufacturing about 100. When 
Mr. Murray left the station, the industry was 
given up, but now that he is back again, the 
work will probably be started again. 
There is little doubt that there will be a good 
sale for pith-liats in Colombo, as visitors to the 
tropics generally invest in pith-hats before they 
think of doing anything else, on disembarking in 
the East ; and though pith-hats are to be had at 
Port Said, it is not always convenient to get 
them there ; so that passengers generally supply 
themselves with their necessary head gear at 
Colombo, where they begin to appreciate the heat, 
rather than wait till they reach India or China. 
It will of course have to be seen whether pith- 
hats could be manufactured in Ceylon at a cheaper 
rate than they are made in and imported from 
India. It is quite likely once pith-hats are 
cheaply made in Ceylon, that those who cannot 
afford to purchase English-made sun-hats at 
12 or 15 rupees or even Indian ones at the 
prices they are sold for in the Colombo stores, 
would gladly invest a rupee for a Ceylon-made 
" Sola topee." 
GENEEAL ITEMS. 
Elementary Agriculture is the title of a new 
text-book written by Dr, Webb, Principal of the 
Aspatria Agricultural College. A short while 
ago two other works on Agricultural Science 
were published by Professor Wrightson of Down- 
ton College, and Professor Wright of the Glasgow 
Technical College, and it is announced that 
Dr. Fream will bring out a work on Elementary 
Agricultural Science early this year. Thei'e is thus 
no lack of text-books for our Agricultural 
Schools and Colleges, but in fact a number to 
select from. The Manual by Dr. Webb is said to be 
admirable, both in conception and execution, 
and only requires to be known to be very 
highly appreciated. 
The varieties of mango grown in Queensland 
are known as Dohdohl, Strawberry, Alphonse. 
Gumphor, Bengalee, Sangier, and Gratissima, 
None of these names are familiar among us, but 
doubtless these ijidicate some of the numerous 
varieties "we have in Ceylon, where the largest 
number of varieties, if not the best mangoes, 
are grown. 
In a lecture delivered before the Society of 
Arts by A. T. Laurie, M. A., the lecturer 
stated that Dragon's Blood -was mentioned by 
Pliny, and that it is the resin obtained from 
the Calamus Palm {Pterocarpus Draco, Lin.), 
Dragon tree. 
The leaves of Indian hemp (Cannabis Sativa) 
is said to be a simple and yet most effective 
means of keeping weevils out of grain. They 
have been tried with success in Cape Colony, and 
have been proved to be harmless to everything 
but the weevil. The leaves are simply placed about 
in the bags containing the seed. All grain-grow- 
ers should have a few bushes of Cannabis 
Sativa, which grows rapidly and is easily pro- 
pagated from soedp 
