[Feb. 1, 1898 
o7S Supplement to the “ Trepical Agriculturist: 
fiufural (an oily product obtained on distilling means raw stable dung, fermenting fast and 
bran witli bvdrocbloric acid, but also afforded reeking ’ with ammonia, there is this to be 
by all fibrous substances in a greater or less 
degree). He adds, however, although it may 
find use for some applications of floss fibre, its 
somewliut unfavourable chemical characteristics 
are not likely to recommend it to the spinner 
in view of the present low price of cotton (at 
the end of last year). 
The practical e.xpert referee on fibres (Mr. C. E. 
Collyer) to whom the floss was submitted, has 
furnished the following report This particular 
floss was in considerable demand in the markets a 
few years ago for fancy te.xtile purposes, but 
owing to the difficulties presented by the varia- 
tions in the quality of parcels supplied, and to 
the intermittent supply when requirements arose, 
the material has dropped out of use. The quality 
of the Indian growth is inferior to the pro- 
duct of Java, which is probably derived from 
Calotropk ijujantca (the Ceylon species), small 
samples of which have occa.sioally been received 
from India. The specimen now submitted is 
of fair colour, and ot rather short staple some- 
what towy in character, containing an excessive 
quantity of inferior immature fibre and seed 
fragments. 
Mr. Collyer is reported to have inspected many 
varieties of the floss in question, mostly from 
Calcutta (where it is sometimes called “ Akund 
cotton”), which were mostly inferior to the 
sample referred to in the above report. These 
samples were sold at as low a price as one 
penny per pound, and there was but little demand 
for it even at that price. The trade in the 
floss, it is thought, may possibly be revived 
if a moderate but continuous supply can be 
guaranteed. If of good quality, the inice it 
would realize ought to range from 4 to 5 pence 
per pround, c.f. and i. terms. In packing for 
sale, the floss should be handled as little as 
possible, the pods and seeds being entirely 
removed, and the floss left in its natural con- 
dition unopened ; any discoloured portions should 
be separated and forwarded separately. Tlie 
bales received in London from Java usually 
contain 80 to 90 lbs. of floss tightly sewn in canvas, 
not pressed. In a letter to the Ceylon Observer, 
dated 24th May, 1895, Messrs. Thirkell & 
Co. wrote: “In conclusion' we would ask for 
samples of the silk cotton or floss from the 
seed pod of the Calotrojns yigantea or Mudar 
for which a demand npipeais to be springing uji, 
prresent value about 6d. per lb. landed in London.” 
Later in the same year samph s of wara floss 
were sent with other fibres from tl e Colombo School 
of Agriculture to London for rej in’t, but no definite 
opinion was received as to its value, the only remark 
made being that it was of no use in the fibre 
(rope) trade. The value of the floss ns remarked 
above is, however, for fancy textile purposes. 
FRUIT CULTURE. 
( Continued.) 
On no account should the common custom be 
followed of bottoming every tree-planting hole 
with aishovelful of manure under the idea that the 
tree is getting theieby a siiecial mark of attention, 
ndependent of the fact that “manure” too often 
considered, that natural manurial agents can 
only be satisfactorily taken by the fine hair-roots 
when presented in a very dilute state by the help 
of water. Moreover, the fermentation and decay 
of this organic matter gives off a large quantity 
of carbonic acid gas, filling up the interstices 
of the soil and driving upwards the atmo.s- 
pheric air which ought to fill them. AVere it 
not that gases have a wonderful power of 
diffusion and dilute themselves away with great 
rapidity, the custom of bottoming tree-pits with 
fermenting dung wmuld have been dropped long 
ago as a sure means of asphixiating the roots. 
If the soil is of average fertilily and well pre- 
pared, or if being somewhat poorer, a little 
old well-rotted manure has been added during 
the trenching, there is not the least need for 
the manuring of the hole referred to. 
As a general statement it may be said that 
orchard manuring is best done by top dressing, 
and turning the material into the upper tilth to be 
carried slowly by solution dowui to the level 
of the roots. It is a good plan to have a plan 
of the orchard in which the rows are plotted 
and the individual trees have their names entered. 
This will enable one to identify each tree — 
as labels soon become illegible and no reliance 
can be placed upon a vague remembrance — 
distinguish the qualities of one from the other, 
and enable him to gain a general knowledge of fruit 
trees. If supports are necessary for transplants, 
thebest plan is to put in two stakes 14 to 15 in- 
ches di.^tant from the tree and tie it to a cross- 
bar fastened horizontally from one to the other : 
a single stake d.iveii in among the roots is 
objectionable. 
When the trees have been firmly established, 
the condition of openness and aeration with 
free passages of moisture through it and away 
must be maintained. 
The v\diole of the ground between and among 
the trees has to be kept in an open worked 
condition, not only because it would ,otherwise 
harbour weeds which would draw sustenance 
from the soil which belongs to the trees, but 
for another and important reason. An open 
pulverulent tilth at the surface is the best pre- 
ventive of evaporation from the underlayers in 
which the roots lie and perform their functions. 
As soon as a hard continuous surface-cru>t is 
formed, the uninterryipted capillary attraction 
exerted by the interstices of the soil-particles 
draws the moisture of the lower strata up to 
the heated cru.st, where it evaporates as fast 
as it is tr aii.-mitted. It is not long therefore 
before the feeding-bed of the roots under such 
surface-crust is far too dry for their proper 
functions, the growth of the root hairs ceases, 
and the tree begins to show signs of flagging. 
Matters cannot be set right, as some ignorantly 
suppose, by flooding the root-bed with water. As 
the water gets slowly away by percolation, most 
of it is evaporated from the suiface and the 
crust reproduced, with the inevitable result of 
the same capillary rising of the very water just 
administerd and its dissipation into the air. 
There is therefore a pernicious alternation of 
a fast and feast forced upon the roots. The 
