Frn.  r,  t8q6.] 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
553 
flitioii  uf  each  xillac'c,  of  wliicrii  a contimioiis 
record  is  thus  available  ; bearinj^-  on  irrigation, 
enltnrable  extent,  waste  land,  \ariations  in 
holdings,  tlie  nninber  and  contlition  of  llocUs  and 
herds.  As,  liowever,  these  particulars  are  available 
from  other  sources  and  reports,  it  has  been  reconi- 
inemled  that  the  economic  reports  are  of  no 
])ractical  value  and  should  be  discontinued  ; 
i)iit  the  Government  has  reserved  its  decision 
on  the  point.  In  regard  to  tlie  Collection 
of  Revenue  in  jirecarious  tracts  the  greatest 
(;onsideration  seems  to  be  shown  to  the  ryots, 
with  the  result  that  no  ditliculty  has  been 
experienced  in  the  collection  of  revenue  in  any 
part  of  the  Presidency.  We  remember  com- 
jdaints  here,  before  the  abolition  of  the  Paddy 
Kent,  that  tlie  rent  was  made  payable  before 
the  crops  were  reaped  ; and  opportunity  was 
thus  allbrded  to  the  wily  lieadman  to  acquire 
the  laml  or  the  crojis  under  a forced  sale,  or 
I he  cultivator  was  drii  en  to  borrow  .at  usu- 
rious rates  — literally  cent  |>er  cent,  by  nnder- 
lahing-  to  ileliver  to  the  lender  paddy  twiiu'  the 
lalne  of  the  loan.  <>n  the  adjacent  continent, 
we  lind  the  time  for  the  payment  of  revenue 
in  instalments  revised,  .se  as  to  enable  the 
ryot-i  to  sell  their  jirodnce  before  being  called 
upon  to  |)ay  the  Government  dues.  Further 
modifications  have  been  recommended  for  the  relief 
of  the  ryot,  but  they  remain  to  be  adopted. 
Had  similar  consideration  been  shown  here,  the 
P.addy  Rent  may  have  been  saved;  but  rigid 
exaction  did  its  work. 
Under  Mefisures  of  Protection  are  included 
the  extension  of  communications,  advances  to 
■agriculturists,  and  irrigation.  Under  the  first 
head  we  note  the  completion  of  the  East 
Coast  Railway  as  far  as  Berhampur,  400 
miles,  and  ' Surveys  for  Railways  aggre 
gating  4.")8  miles — surely  a goodly  record  for  the 
year.  Among  the  latter  we  lind  102  miles  of 
\tadura-Pamban  track,  which  we  hope  is  destined 
some  day  to  heli>  to  connect  our  little  Island 
with  its"  big  neighbour.  The  advances  to  agri- 
culturists represent  a benevolent,  and  to  a great 
extent,  succesful,  attempt  to  combat  the  great 
evil  of -usury,  on  which  we  had  occasion  to 
write  recently  with  reference  to  contemplated 
legislation.  The  loans  during  the  year  amounted 
to  R270,o91,  a falling  off  as  compared  with  the 
previous  year  when  11450,921  found  their  way 
into  the  'hands  of  needy  agriculturists;  but  in 
tbe  year  liefme,  the  sum  was  as  large  as 
K2,27.j,159.  It  would  be  diflicult  to  estimate  the 
extent  of  relief  which  these  enormous  sums 
afforded  to  hundreds  and  thousands  of  families. 
We  should  think  that  state  loans  of  this  des- 
cription arc  a f.ar  more  efficient  corrective  of 
usury  than  direct  legislation.  The  diminution  in 
the  sums  lent  the  two  last  years  is  explaineil, 
partly  by  the  magnitude  of  the  previous  loan, 
liuf  "mainly  by  the  imjirovement  in  the  se.asons 
since  the  Ilistress  of  1892.  Loans,  however,  are 
only  a temporary  expeilient,  and  can  only 
lighten  distress.  To  avert  famine,  railways  and 
irrigation  works  are  needed,  and  both  these  are 
receiving  attention  year  by  year— the  latter  to 
heli>  to"  increase  the  fond  su])p]y,  the  former  to 
transport  food  into  the  famine  districts  in  emer- 
gencies, and  generally  to  aid  in  the  development 
of  the  resources  of  the  country.  On  the  Rnshi- 
knlya  works  in  tJanjam,  the  expenditure  during 
the  year  was  IRPll  lakhs,  raising  the  tot.al  up 
to  date  to  R.Sb  80  lakhs,  while  on  the  Periyar 
project  (with  which  the  name  of  Colonel  Penny- 
cnick  is  honourably  connected)  R9’60  lakhs  were 
spent  during  the  year,  or  K73'56  lakhs  up 
to  date.  The  expenditure  of  these  enormous 
sums, — and  they  by  no  means  rc[)resent  all  that 
w.as  spent  last  year — if  it  proves  the  greatness 
of  the  needs  ot  a teeming  population,  establishes 
also  the  .solicitude  with  which  the  Government 
labours  for  the  welfare  of  those  under  its  rule, 
and  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  grand  character- 
istics of  British  rule. 
Agricultural  Education  does  not  seem  to  have 
proved  a success,  for  we  lind  the  re-organiza- 
tion of  the  Agricultur.al  College  has  been  necessary, 
while  as  a means  of  increasing  the  number  of 
students,  the  holder  of  an  Agricultural  Diploma 
is  to  be  ])laccd  on  a level  with  gr.aduates,  so 
far  .as  employment  in  the  public  service  is  con- 
ccrncil.  The  College  Farm  continues  to  be  man- 
aged as  a Dairy  Farm— the  milk  produceil  find- 
ing a ready  loc.al  sale;  and  the  development 
of  the  farm  at  S.aid.apet  is  contemplated  so  tliat, 
like  our  own  Government  Dairy,  if  Nhould  sup- 
ply milk  to  ( lie  hospitals,  and  .'lUo  l o t ho  troop.-, 
in  M.adr>as.  'I'liere  is  not  much  ihaf  is  deliniic 
on  experimental  crojis,  nnd  the  inquiry  info  fim 
cnltiwation  of  cotton  ■‘ind  imligo  which  w.as  begun 
two  ye.ars  ago  has  not  been  completed.  .Vs  here, 
the  iRfiiculty  of  having  ii'on  ploughs  rejiairetl 
has  stood  in  the  way  of  their  extended  use. 
We  do  not  reatl  that  objection  Avas  raised  to 
the  weight  of  the  plough,  but  the  cattle  in  India 
are  of  a larger  and  stronger  breed  than  ours. 
'Pile  [laragraphs  on  cattle-breeding  and  veteri- 
nary establishments  are  of  interest,  and  suggest 
the  need  of  .some  organized  experiments  liere 
under  (government  auspices.  We  may  revert  to 
this  subject  again. 
ARECANUT  AS  A \^ERMIEUGE. 
It  is  well  known  fact  that  the  arecamit  contoiu 
a fluid  and  volatile  alkaloid,  Arecolin,  closely  allied 
to  Pelletierin,  the  alkaloid  contained  in  the  bark  of 
tbe  pomegranate  root,  but  much  more  poisonous 
than  the  latter.  The  arecanut  has  been  introduced 
into  veterinary  practice  in  Germany  over  12  years 
ago  ; but  I am  sorry  I am  unable  to  give  you  the 
doses  used.  No  doubt  they  are  carefully  proportioned  to 
the  weight  of  the  animal  to  be  treated.  I find  that 
it  has  also  been  used  in  the  human  subject  to  ex- 
pel tape  worm,  in  doses  from  60  to  90  grains  for  an 
adult.  I do  not  however  recommend  its  use,  as  it 
is  highly  poisonous,  causing  some  peculiar  and  dis- 
agreeable symptoms,  such  as  increased  action  of  the 
bowels  and  violent  diarrhoea,  salivation  and  bronchitis, 
contraction  of  the  pupils  and  a very  irritable  con- 
dition of  the  heart. 
Death  results  from  an  overdose,  as  in  the  case  of 
Mr.  Brown’s  dog.  M.  D] 
TEA  AND  CAMPHOR  IN  FORMOSA. 
In  the  Scottish  Geoc/rccphical  Magazine  for 
Nov.  1895  is  an  article  on  Formosa  by  Jolm 
Dodd,  lieing  the  abstract  of  a paper  read  at  the 
meeting  of  the  British  Association,  189.5.  From 
it  we  make  the  following  extracts  ; — 
1 may  as  well  describe  here  how  the  Hakkas  and 
others  manufacture  camphor.  Small  shanties  are 
scattered  over  the  hills  where  the  camphor-trees 
grow,  and  in  all  directions  the  clearing  of  the  woods 
is  going  on  at  a rapid  rate.  Some  trees  are  cut  up 
for  camphor-making,  others  are  sawn  into  planks  and 
knees  for  the  building  of  junks  and  boats  of  all 
descriptions.  Fine  specimens  of  camphor  wood,  ten 
feet  and  more  in  width  and  several  inches  thick, 
are  sent  down  to  the  coast,  though  to  facilitate 
transport  they  are  often  cut  down  considerably  before 
they  arrh’e  at  the  port  of  shipment.  Other  timber 
is  also  exported,  such  as  the  siao  lam,  a beautiful 
wood  nearly  as  light  as  maple,  and  suitable  for  furni- 
ture, There  are  also  hard  woods  and  black  wood  as 
