378 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Dec. I, 1 897. 
given as the averages of the 23 chemical analyses 
of Lucerne : — 
As Green Fodder. 
Fresh air-dry material 71’8 2’7 
Water-free substance A^i7. 9’4 
As Hay and Dry 
Coarse Fodder. 
Fresh air-dry material 8’4 7'4 
Water-free substance A77. 8’1 
Fertilizing Constituents of 
'S 
<D 
9 
to 
S X 
s 
9 X 
^ O) 
4-8 
7-4 
iS 
12-3 
10 
17-1 
26-2 
43-9 
3-4 
14-3 
25-0 
42-7 
2'2 
15-6 
27-3 
46-6 
2-4 
Feeding Stuffs 
:— 
6 
0> 
0 
0 . 
s 
.2 ‘ 
*0 
Ash 
be 
p 
ospb 
acid 
CO rn 
03 
X 
■g 0 
Ph 
Green Fodder- 
... 75’30 
2-25 
0-72 
013 
0’56 
Hay or Dry 
Coarse 
0-51 
1-68 
Fodder 
.. 6-55 
7-07 
2-19 
To contrast 
with the t 
bove So 
1 ghum 
Fodder 
may 
be here shown from the same table of analysts of 
Fertilizing Constituents of Feeding Stuffs; — 
Green Sorghum 
Fodder ... 82'19 ... C'23 009 0 23 
• — xifjricultund Ledger. 
The Longevity op Seeds. — M. Charles Naudin 
contributes lo the Bulletin of the Societe Nationale 
d’Acclimataticn de France a paper on The Longevity 
of Seeds, and their Preservation in the Barth.’’ 
Seeds, says he, are known to remain for an indefiitile 
length of t me, even for several centuries, in the 
ground without germinating, ow'ing to atmospheric 
or oilnr causes. M. Naudin instances, as a case of 
suspended germination, a packet of earth from the 
Sahara, which spread over a liow'er bed, and duly 
watered, was found to contain seeds of Helianthemum, 
which grew, and bore yellow flowers. The inference 
is, that an apparently barren region yet contains in 
its soil seeds which, were the climate to become more 
humid, would rapidly transform it to one of vegetable 
fertility and luxuriance. M. Naudin mentions, in 
further confirmation of his opinions, that in 1895 he 
received a few seeds from Gaboon packed in some 
of the soil of that place. This earth, less than two 
pounds in weight, w'as placed in a flower-pot, whence, 
in a fortnight, sprang twenty seedlings all belonging 
to the Cucurbitaceaa. The stems and branches of 
these plants grew to a length of from 20 to 24 feet, 
and it is hoped that they will put forth bloom, thus 
showing the genus and species. From this accidental 
yield, it is supposed that soil more carefully selected 
would give still richer results. In the many cases 
where plants cannot be brought to Europe in good 
order, where they die on the voyage, or are imma- 
ture or past their prime, it is suggested that a sample 
of the earth selected from some likely spot in their 
vicinity should be sent over in their stead, and might 
be found to contain fertile seeds of the species desired. 
If this says .VI. Naudin, seems a proceeding based 
too much upon chance, like that of a fisher casting 
his net at a venture, this difference may be pleaded: 
the botanical collector is no more sure of finciag 
what he seeks, but in all probability will oblaiu 
something new and acceptable. Finally, it must 
always be borne in mind how easily packets of 
earth can be transported from place to place 
without any attention on the journey , — The Gurdencrti' 
Chronicle. 
PLANTING NOTES. 
Orange Culture in Ceylon — We understand that 
there has been a considerable importation of good 
orange plants litely fer distribution and tiial in different 
districts. The plants are very choice ones and 
were selected from a special nursery, and that 
they cost very nearly E500 laid down at Colombo. 
They were securely packed in small bags, with the 
nuisery soil, and looked quite fresh and green, but 
without a single leaf. They promise to do very well, 
and we shall be glad to know results of their successful 
cultivation up-country. The native orange {by the 
way, is it indigenous ?) like other native products, 
is not systematically cultivated by the Sinhalese. 
It is generally believed that oranges grown on the 
hills are not so palatable as those grown in the 
low-country, and that the Salpitti Korale, Kotta, 
and the neighbouring villages, produce the best 
oranges, as the .soil there is best suited for their 
culture. Upcouutry, we are told, the plants thrive 
well, but the oranges do not taste so well as those 
grown in the low country, though Nuwara Eliya 
and the TJva Province produce fairly good specimens. 
Of course, the oranges grown in Ceylon and India 
are quite unlike those from Australia and the West. 
Our manges, however ripe they’ may be, as a rule 
preserve their verdant hue and do not take on a 
yellow one, while the taste is a shaiper and more 
refreshing one than the sweet flavour of the oranges 
met with in Europe. We understand that a large 
quantity of oranges are imported into Australia 
during the summer from Italy and Spain, and there 
is a growing demand for them in the Colonies. 
Should, therefore, the experiments now being made 
up-country prove a success, there should be no reason 
why Ceylon should not compete in the Colonies with 
Spain and Italy. It is a pity that a few lemon 
plants were not imported as well. The Australian 
lemons are simply exquisite, and they have a much 
finer flavour than our Ceylon limes. There is 
every reason to believe that lemons could be 
cultivated in our island as well as oranges. — The 
orange fungus is a great pest in some districts: the 
introduction of lady-bird beetles would speedily 
stop that. 
Planting Life in Brazil — Mr. T. L. Villiers, the 
Ceylon planter who recently proceeded to Brazil as 
the Manager of the Dumont Coffee Company’s estates 
there, has returned to Ceylon. His description of 
planting life in Brazil is not attractive: — 
“ Mr. Villiers went with Mrs. Villiers to the 
estate, but found the life there rougher than he 
anticipated and very different to a planter’s life in 
Ceylon. The heat, he says, was very trying, almost 
as bad as Colombo, and yellowfever was very prevalent 
in the neighbourhood, so that he managed to get 
his agreement with the Company cancelled, and left 
Biazil after a very brief stay. His description of 
planting life in Brazil is interesting. There are very 
few English in the country’, and they are not popular 
with the indigenous population. There was a European 
family on the Dumont Company’s property — the 
Secretary and his wife — but the nearest European 
doctor was a 16 hours’ railway journey away, and 
the labourer is Italian, with little in common either 
with the cooly or with the planter. The little narrow- 
gauge railway that traverses the San Paulo district 
is the principal means of communication, but there 
is an accident on it nearly every day, so that, while 
it is useful for freight, passengers prefer to go round 
to Bio by sea, as being slower but safer. Brazil 
coffee growing may be profitable, but is evidently 
not an occupation for a married Ceylon planter, or 
for anybody who is not prepared to rough it a good 
— Planting Opinion, October 16. 
The “Queensland Agric iltural Journal,’’ Vol. 
I., Part 5, November, 1897. — Contents : — Agriculture, 
Dairying, The Orchard, Botany, Apiculture, Tropi- 
cal Industries, Bacteriology, General Notes, Statistics, 
The Markets, Farm and Garden Notes for November, 
Orchard Notes for November, and Public Announce- 
ments, 
