826 
tmV. tropical agriculturist, 
[June i, 1891. 
COCOiXUT SUGAK. 
Hyderabad Estate, Batticaloa, 
Hoveiuber 27th, 1849. 
Messi's. Lemarchand & Co., Jaftna. 
Gentlemer),— I am in safe receipt of your favor 
written in reply to the questions addressed to you, 
and I beg to offer my very best thanks for the same, 
conveyine- as it does, much new _ and valuable nrfor- 
mation about the subject which is now occupying a 
great deal of my attention. I neglected writing till 
I could more satisfactorily give you a kind of result 
of our trials, and from which I hope yoii may draw 
the same conclusions that I have. As for the palmyra 
toddy, I consider that at present the most impor- 
tant affair in Jaffna, and only wish I could have a 
chance to try what could be done, I myself think 
that the fact of the season beginning and ending in ,3 or 
4 months a great advantage indeea. I make no doubt 
that the paane could be pm'chased from the natives 
at a remunerating price, and that they would get to 
prefer so selling it, to making that abominable com- 
pound, which they do now. I have proved that paane 
can be brought always in all seasons, in the hot 
sun or rainy weather, in the^ land wind or monsoon, 
m miles in chatties on coolies’ heads, not reaching 
me till 4 p.m., and yet not suffer any deterioration 
whatever, and that from it, however highly limed it 
may be a most superior quality of muscovado sugar 
can be made. The weather is now so very rainy 
that I can do nothing, but when it clears a little, 
I will try and get some more and make you a sample. 
Even that excellent sugar you sent me deliquesced con- 
siderably on the way, and I am afraid that mine, 
beiiiK still only muscovado, would do so entirely, still 
I chance a few grains in this letter. Our experiments 
are not yet sufficient to determine precisely whether 
bark or lime would be used; but m consequence 
of a recent discovery I am inclined rather to the 
latter, as there is then no risk of fermentation tak- 
ing place This day a paper on the subject, with sam- 
ples goes to the Asiatic Society, whom I have requested 
to have a full report thereon made and sent to the 
papers. I have little doubt they will do so, and then 
you will see the whole detailed, as *far as we have 
am'^curious to hear what the Jaffna planters say, 
and if they have tried it as yet on any of their bear- 
ing trees ; also, if they anticipate that we shall have 
any difficulty in obtaining toddy-drawers. A friend 
writing from India affirms that we shall not, but 
that any number can be procured from Mysore, 
Tanjore, &c. , ■ i i j. n 
My brother has made a very fair trial on two small 
trees having tried them 2 months, (7 paales were cut 
altogether on the two trees; 8 might have been cut, but 
one was left in the middle of the experiment, and now 
he is letting the trees run to nuts, as a further 
proof, each proceeding paale was uniformly larger 
than the one before, and yielded more toddy. 
The last cut trees yielded the most. A paale will 
run 40 days’ cutting twice a day. With lime, the 
toddy may be taken down once in 24 hours, and 
in the evening the paale only stirred. The /i/'iit 
30 days the two trees yielded on an average 
.S J pints each per day. The second 31 days they gave 
4i 
2j7i 
3 > average. 
lint it is a question whether the first month 
should lie counted. Thus a tree seems to be able to 
acnuirc as it was a of giving toddy; and prob- 
alily llie more it is cut the lietter. The panics 
whicli have comeoutsincc liave almndance of nuts now 
on Die flower stems, adding tlic Jtli for tlie paale 
nuts cut we have, on the average of the two montlis 
iihout IHO gallons per annum fiom a tree, and taking 
the second month, over 200 or rather exactly 200. 
1 lun sure this is much niori! than any one expected. 
In gill tlic procOHHCH I Hco no (liliiculty winch 
niav not be overcome, oi' rather which has not been 
c. vei'cvfitt*, uutl vn the lirsl ilcccmbcr ivc hope ty start, 
with .'50 trees, but that depends on whether we can get 
a certain pail made.) 
I have only further to say that if any planter in 
Jaffna wishes for information or any particular point 
which I can afford, I will do my best to afford it him. 
I dare say they already number among them some 
sugar planters. I have a book by a Mr. Whitehouse 
of Jamaica. Is he any relation to your son-in-law? 
But it is possible, as I am acquainted with most of the 
late discoveries, &c., or rather improvements in the 
art, that something may occur, if they really wish to 
try and if in time for next palmyra season ; if any- 
one thought seriously of it, I would he willing to 
come to Jaffna (if could get leave) and assist them 
to erect any works necessary or forward any plans 
or sketches of the same on remunerating me a trifle for 
the loss of time. There are some things particularly 
needed by this paane (as it seems now) rather dif- 
ferent from what is necessary in the case of cane 
juice; but, if any one procure and boil some paane, 
they will soon see it. As our paane averages O'.'i 
Beaume, there is no fear but every gallon will yield 
a pound of muscovado sugar, and my trial leads me to 
think that 14 lb. may be looked for. None of my ex- 
periments have been quantitative ones ; it cannot be 
done in open earthen chatties. 
As to the refining of the J aggery, it can be done ; and 
I have done it, but how much better to act on the raw 
material ! Notwithstanding, when the season opens, 
I will ask you to buy and send me some for a trial 
on a large scale, say, perhaps, a ton. I will advise 
you of this. 
Meanwhile, please make this quite public. I shall 
have no secrets, though of course the practical part of 
the business can never be explained, it must be seen and 
experienced. The cost of apparatus, however, will not be 
very great. If any one is going to set about it as I said 
in time for the palmyras, they should lose no time. 
A few lines in acknowledgment will be esteemed a 
favor. Please tell me if the sample arrived at all 
presentable, and, if so what the sequel is priced at ? 
If it is really in good condition when you get it, 
Perhaps you would let Mr. Dyke see it ? Perhaps you 
have heard also something or other new on the 
subject since. By-the-bye, you omit to say which 
sized baskets are sold 300 for a shilling. I should like 
to know the nett weight (minus baskets) of a given 
number of baskets, their size, and price. You do say 
8 to 10 baskets one pound weight, but not which kind 
size is here specified. We have not got to make such 
good sugar, I think when Capt. Reddie was here ; this 
is made by a new process discovered lately. 
With many thanks, I remain. Gentlemen, 
Yoiu’s faithfully, 
(Signed) J. Glanvillb Tavloe, 
» 
FIXATION OF FREE NITROGEN. 
The subject of nitrogen in its relation to vegetation 
has occupied the attention of agricultural chemists, 
more or less, for nearly a century, and it is just about 
half-a-century since a Boussingault commenced 
experiments to determine whether plants did assimi- 
late the free nitrogen of the air — his conclusions 
being that they did not. 
Thirty years ago a series of experiments on the 
same subject was commenced by Lawes and Gilbert 
at Rothamsted, the results of which confirmed those 
of Boussingault. The authors then stating that in 
view of the evidence afforded of the non-assimilation 
of free nitrogen by plants, when grown under con- 
ditions of sterilisation and of enclosure, it is very 
desirable that the several actual or possible sources 
whence they may derive combined nitrogen should be 
more fully investigated. 
Since that time the question of the sources of the 
nitrogen of vegetation has continued to be the subject 
of much discussion and experimental enquiry, both 
at Rotliamsted and elsewhere. But during the last 
few years, however, the discussion has assumed a 
somewhat different aspect. The question still is, 
whether the free nitrogen of the air is an important 
source of the nitrogen of vegetation ; hut whilst few 
now assume that green-leaved or chlorophyllous 
plants directly assimilate free nitrogen, it is never- 
