THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
Jan. I, 1898.] 
473 
the chemical characteristics of lignocellulose, are 
as follows; — 
Moisture . . 9 0 per cent. 
Ash • . O’O „ „ 
r (Alkali, 1 per cent. Na O H), 
_ , , . j 26'2 percent, (loss). 
Hydrolysis ■{ ^ g 
1, 24’7 per cent. (loss). 
Cellulose . . 69'8 per cent. 
Furfural . . 19’5 ,, ,, 
Mr. Cross states that this floss fibre is an extremely 
interesting chemical type containing as it does a very 
high and, in his experience, unique percentage of 
furfural. He is of opinion, however, that although 
use may be found for some applications of floss fibre, 
its somewhat unfavourable chemical characteristics 
are not likely to recommend it to the spiuner, in 
view of the present low price of cotton. 
The floss has also been submitted to the Expert Re- 
feree to the Institute on Fibres, who has reported that 
this floss was in considerable demand in the markets 
a few years ago for fancy textile purposes, but that, 
owing to the difficulties presented by the variations 
in the quality of the parcels supplied, and to the 
intermittent supply when requirements arose, the 
material has dropped out of use. The quality of the 
Indian growth has, so far, proved inferior to the 
product of Java, which is probably derived from C. 
gigantea, and of which small samples have occasionally 
been received from India. The present specimen 
was of fair colour, of rather short staple, somewhat 
towy in character, and contained an excessive quantity 
of inferior, immature fibre ?-nd seed fragments. Many 
varieties of the floss in question have been dealt 
with, most of thsm from Calcutta, where it is some- 
times called “akund cotton,” which were usually 
inferior to the present sample. These samples were 
sold at as low a price as one penny per pound, and 
there was but little demand for them at the price. 
The trade in this floss might possibly be revived if 
a moderate and continuous supply could be guaranteed. 
If of good quality, it would realise prices ranging 
from Id. to 5d. per pound ( 0 . f. & i. terms). In packing 
for sale, the floss should be handled as little as pos- 
sible, the pods and seeds being entirely removed 
and the floss left in its natural condition — unopened ; 
any discoloured portions should be removed and for- 
warded separately. The bales received here from Java 
usually contain 80 to 90 pounds of floss tightly sewn 
in canvas, but not pressed. 
“WAKA” FIBRE: CALOTROPIS 
GIGANTEA. 
Nov. 30. 
Dear Sib,— W ith reference to your planting 
correspondent’s note, (see page 477), how can 
the cotton of this plant be said to have 
valuable medicinal qualities? Is it made into 
‘ cellular ’ shirtings and ‘ war(r)anted ’ to prevent chills ? 
I sent home a sample of this fibre some ten years 
ago unnamed. It was prepared by hand, regardless 
of cost and the brokers classed it as the finest Rhea, 
value, 1 think, £36 or £38 per ton. I do not re- 
member the percentage of fibre from the weight of 
stems cut, but it was rather higher than that from 
Rhea stems obtained at the same time : the latter 
were grown, though, under shade. The calotropis 
would doubtless be improved by cultivation. The 
plant is very common over large tracts of our low- 
country, growing often in poor soil and springing up 
frequently in abandoned chena lands. 
The medical profession, when they have leisure 
and inclination to examine this and other native 
drugs, may find “ Wara ” of some value : the milky 
juice is often used as an application in cases of 
rheumatism and as a blister for liver complaints 
and for coughs. . ^ 
If the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens would 
send home a bale of the silky floss obtained from 
the seed-pods, we should soon know whether this pro- 
duct was worth collection, but I fear he has no 
funds for experimental work of this kind.— Yours 
faithfully, 
HOW TO ECONOMISE LABOUR 
ON ESTATES. 
Sir, — It seems at first sight venturesome, if not 
absolutely reckless, for anyone to undertake to criti- 
cise the opinions of an Editor, and especially of one 
having practical knowledge of this subject as an estate 
proprietor. But there are many questions, in connec- 
tion with the discussion which has recently taken 
E lace, which naturally hinge on the points that have 
een specially brought forwaid for debate, and it is 
to these that the writer more particularly invites 
attention. As with other Examination papers, there 
is a natural tendency to stray beyond the limits of 
the questions set: indeed to answer them all fully, 
with all their collateral issues, would involve the com- 
pilation of a Treatise on estate management. Many 
of the contributors have been very careful to avoid 
going beyond the bounds: some no doubt with a wish 
to be precise, other apparently because they felt they 
were on dangerous ground. With the country flooded 
with “Experienced” creepers who have paid their 
trainers’ board expenses and premium for twelve or 
eighteen months, and are eager to drop the oppro- 
brious title of creeper for that of assistant superinten- 
dent, it is hardly safe for any planter, unless he has 
special interest with his employers, to breathe a sylla- 
ble which might be construed as a reflection on the 
existing state of affairs. He must agree with Pope, 
“ Whatever is, is best 1” ’ 
The circular issued by the Editer of the Ceylmi 
Observer contained queries with reference especially 
to the labour supply on Tea plantations, but as manv 
estates comprise, in addition to tea, considerable 
areas of coffee, cocoa, cardamoms, etc., it will be con- 
venient to treat the questions as applying to all 
estates on which Tamil coolies are employed. 
As regards the first question : Wire Sfioofs. The 
advantageous use of these may in some few cases 
perhaps depend on the situation of the coolies’ 
lines. If the lines are near the factory and 
the estate a small one, a wire shoot for the 
transport of leaf might be of no advantage, 
but on very many estates there is no doubt that 
shoots might be erected and would effect a laro-e 
saving in transport of leaf, grass and firewood. 
Anything that saves the labour force from extra 
work in the evenings is certainly worth consideration, 
2. Labour-saving appliances. — There is room as 
many contributors have shown, for more appliances 
in factories : some seem to be always muddled 
Withered leaf, for instance, is often carried by coolies, 
from the withering shed to the rollers, exposed to" 
the outside air ; in other cases it is carried down- 
stairs instead of being passed through the floor into 
the roller’s mouth. Able-bodied men, who might be 
employed at pruning, or sawing and splitting fire- 
wood are often to be seen in the factory doing work 
that would be better dm e by children. 
For field woiks, the more extented use of single 
bullock carts, hand carts and porters’ barrows, for 
transport of leaf, manure, grass etc,, is very desir- 
able. The objection to bullock carts on some places 
is that grass is required for the cattle, and the 
modern mania is :o plant every yard of ground 
(except the Tennis court,) with tea, from the boundary 
right up to the bungalow doorstep. For this reason 
on many estates, no space is allowed to the coolies 
for vegetable gardens, and the Superintendent must 
live on condenced milk and feed his horse on straw 
as every ravine has been drained and cleared of grass. 
3. Jramways. — There is little prospect of these 
being used except on large estates in the lower 
disitricts, and as lomr as coconut estate proprietors 
with their special facilities of level ground and large, 
acreages, do not adopt them, it seems hardly 
possible that they would prove economical for Tea 
unless a large group of estates combined for their 
construction. 
4 and 5, Weeding : 7, Drainage. — The majority of 
planters in favour of the present system of weeding 
appear to be actuated solely by the fear of losing 
their labour force, if any change were made. This 
