Nov.  2,  i8g6.] 
THE  TROPICAI.  AGRICULTURIST. 
339 
The  plant  famishes  excellent  forage  for  cattle  in 
the  rains,  white  the  young  pods  can  be  used  as 
a table  vegetable  and  form  a good  substitute  for 
French  beans. 
A large  supply  of  seed  was  harvested  last  season, 
most  of  which  is  available  for  distribution. 
C.vRUOTT,  Short  White  [Daucus  Carota). — Mention 
is  made  at  paragraph  95  of  the  last  annual  report  of 
the  introduction  of  this  new  form  of  carrott. 
Roots  of  the  new  variety  were  planted  out  with 
a view  of  raising  acclimatized  seed,  but  I regret  to  say 
thej  failed  to  flower : so  the  variety  has  for  the  present 
been  lost. 
Clover  Egyptian  {Trifolium  Alexandrinum). — A 
supply  of  seed  of  a clover  was  sent  by  the  Director  of 
Land  Records  and  Agriculture,  N.-V  . P.  and  Oudh, 
under  cover  of  his  No.  1889,  dated  23rd  November 
1895,  for  trial  and  report. 
The  variety  was  not  received  under  a distinctive 
name,  but  it  proved  to  be  Egyptian  Clover,  a kind 
experimented  with  here  in  the  years  1884  and  1885. 
The  crop  much  resembled  lucerne,  but  I consider  it 
far  from  being  equal  to  the  latter  as  a fodder.  It 
bears  cropping  fairly  well  in  the  early  part  of  the  cold 
season,  but  as  it  begins  to  wither  when  the  hot 
season  has  fairly  set  in,  and  usually  completely  dies 
off  in  the  rains,  it  is  therefore  not  possessed  of  the 
perennial  habit  of  lucerne,  and  for  this  reason  is 
much  inferior  to  it  for  cultivation  in  India. 
IOC.  A small  supply  of  seed  has  been  gathered,  part 
of  which  is  available  for  trial  in  other  districts,  but  I 
can  only  recommend  it  to  be  tried  in  districts  higher 
up  in  the  Paiijab  where  the  climate  is  cooler  and 
drier  than  here. 
107.  Bean,  Irvine’s  Hybrid  Perennial  {Phaseohis 
sp.). — Mention  is  made  of  the  introduction  of  this 
bean  at  paragraph  98  of  the  last  aunual  report. 
108.  When  last  reported  on  the  plants  had  died  down 
to  the  ground,  but  as  there  was  life  in  the  fleshy  root 
when  the  report  in  question  was  written,  it  was  hoped 
that  these  would  ultimately  sprout  and  give  a crop. 
109.  A few  of  the  roots  made  an  attempt  to  grow 
but  the  shoots  they  produced  never  looked  healthy, 
and,  after  struggling  on  in  an  unhealthy  state  for 
some  time,  the  plants  all  gradually  died  off. 
110.  In  America  this  beau  is  held  in  high  estima- 
tion, but  it  does  not  appear  to  be  suited  to  the  cli- 
mate of  this  country. 
Sugar  Cane  {Saccharuin  officinarum). — No  seeds  were 
received  from  any  source  during  the  past  year,  so  it 
was  not  possible  to  repeat  the  attempts  of  past  seasons 
to  raise  this  crop  from  true  seed. 
A small  supply  of  canes,  representing  the  varieties 
cultivated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Lucknow,  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Superintendent  of  the  Government 
Holticultural  Gardens,  Lucknow,  and  are  now  under 
culture  in  this  garden. 
As  several  of  the  kinds  are  distinct  and  look  supe- 
rior to  the  varieties  grown  by  the  zamindars  of  this 
district,  their  attention  will  be  drawn  to  the  Lucknow 
sorts  as  soon  as  the  garden  is  possessed  of  sufficient 
stock  for  distribution. 
Sisal  Hemp  {Agave  rigicla  var  Sisalana). — The  Sisal 
hemp  appears  to  have  found  a congenial  home  in 
this  climate.  The  plants  are  growing  vigorously 
and  have  made  as  much  growth  as  the  two  common 
Agaves  of  the  district  could  have  shown  in  the  same 
length  of  time  since  date  of  planting. 
A small  quantity  of  the  fibre  was  prepared  and 
submitted  to  the  Reporter  on  Economic  Products  to 
the  Government  of  India  for  an  opinion. 
He  declared  it  short  and  deficient  in  strength,  but 
this  was  due  to  extracting  it  from  the  leaves  before 
the  latter  had  attained  to  maturity.  When  the  leaves 
are  fully  matured  I have  no  doubt  it  will  show  im- 
provement both  in  length  and  strength. 
The  plants  are  freely  producing  offsets  or  sucker?, 
most  of  which  are  available  for  distribution. 
As  the  plant  is  seldom  asked  for  by  the  public  I 
would  suggest  that  jails,  which  make  a speciality  of 
cultivating  the  common  Agaves  for  the  production 
of  fibre  for  the  manufacture  of  matting,  be  informed 
by  circular  that  plants  of  the  Sisal  hemp  are  available 
for  trial  on  payment  of  freight. 
Rhea  {liochmeria  nivea). — A considerable  number  of 
requests  were  received  during  the  year  for  seeds,  cut- 
tings and  roots  of  this  fibre  plant ; also  for  informa- 
tion as  to  how  to  grow  it,  all  of  which  were  met  with  as 
far  as  possible. 
A company  has  lately  been  started  in  Bombay  to 
work  a newly  discovered  process  for  cleaning  and  pre- 
paring the  fibre  for  the  spinner.  The  attention  it  has 
attracted  has  awakened  renewed  interest  in  the  plant, 
and  as  the  demand  for  it  is  likely  to  increase,  arrange- 
ments will  be  made  during  the  current  season  to  fur- 
ther the  increase  the  area  under  it  in  order  to  meet 
the  anticipated  increased  demand. 
I have  not  much  hope  of  ever  seeing  the  plant  be- 
come a paying  crop  in  the  comparatively  dry  climate 
of  the  North-Western  Provinces,  but  this  is  no  reason 
why  the  garden  should  not  do  all  that  lies  in  its  power 
to  assist  would-be  growers  in  providing  themselves  with 
a supply  of  plants  for  experiments. 
Rum  Plant  {Slrohilantlies  flaccifoUus). — Last  year 
I noted  that  this  plant  (the  wild  indigo  of  Assam) 
had  completely  failed  under  trial  in  the  open  ground, 
but  that  it  would  probably  succeed  under  shade. 
In  consequence  of  the  total  loss  of  the  plants  that 
were  planted  out,  the  stock  was  reduced  to  a single 
pot  specimen.  A fresh  stock  of  plants  is  gradually 
being  got  together  from  cuttings  supplied  by  the 
surviving  plant,  but  as  they  are  not  sufficiently 
strong  for  the  ground  they  are  at  present  being 
nursed  in  pots.  As  soon  as  these  plants  are  ready 
for  the  ground,  they  will  be  planted  out  under  shade 
and  the  result  duly  noted  in  a future  report. 
Sacaline  {Polygonum  sachedinense). — I noted  in  the 
last  annual  report  that  the  growth  of  this  new  forage 
plant  had  been  slow  and  after  another  season  of  trial 
the  same  remark  still  applies  to  it. 
The  plants  are  fairly  healthy,  but  instead  of  pro- 
ducing shoots  from  12  to  I t feet  high  as  claimed  for 
it  by  the  seedman  who  advertised  the  seed,  the 
greatest  length  of  stalk  so  far  produced  has  not 
exceeded  2 feet. 
As  the  roots  become  older  and  stronger,  the  length 
of  stalk  may  increase,  but  it  gives  little  present 
promise  of  ever  proving  a good  forage  plant  in  this 
climate. 
• Arboriculture. 
Services  were,  as  usual,  rendered  by  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  garden  to  the  Board  by  advising,  in- 
spection and  aiding  it  in  every  possible  manner  to  im- 
prove and  advance  the  road  arboriculture  of  the 
district. 
In  accordance  with  orders  conveyed  by  the  Direc- 
tor of  Land  Records  and  Agriculture,  North-Western 
Provinces  and  Oudh,  in  his  letter  iSTo.  258— V.-164, 
dated  the  7th  November  1895,  an  experiment  was 
made  with  a paint  recommended  by  the  Reporter  on 
Economic  Products  to  the  Government  of  India  for 
preventing  the  attacks  of  white  ants  upon  growing 
trees. 
F'or  the  information  of  all  who  may  feel  interested 
in  remedies  for  destroying  white  ants,  I have  thought 
it  desirable  to  here  give  the  recommendation  for  the 
trial  of  the  paint  in  detail,  followed  by  a report  on 
the  result  of  an  experiment  made  with  it  on  a few 
trees  on  one  of  the  Saharanpur  roads. 
“ EXTRACT  FROM  THE  AGRICULTURAL  LEDGER,  SERIES 
1895,  NO.  9. 
“ Paint  used  against  white  ants. 
“ During  a brief  visit  to  the  Native  State  of  Gon- 
dal,  the  writer  recently  gave  this  subject  consider- 
able attention.  There  seemed  to  be  no  doubt  that 
His  Highness  the  Thakore  Sahib,  by  his  enlightened 
action  in  this  matter,  had  effected  a radical  impro- 
vement. The  trees  throughout  his  State  were  all 
painted  as  described,  and  not  a single  .tree  could  be 
found  showing  the  mud  encasements  so  characteris- 
tio  of  the  presence  of  white  ants.  And  very  possi- 
bly, as  a consequence  of  the  care  bestowed  on  these 
trees,  they  were  healthy  and  vigorous,  while  those 
in  neighbouring  States  were  sickly  and  badly  attacked 
with  white  ants.  In  consequence  of  these  observa- 
tions the  writer  asked  for  information  as  to  the  com- 
position of  the  paint  which  had  been  used.  He  was 
informed  that  the  red  colour  was  merely  to  indicate 
