commerce, is the product of this tree. The wax surrounds 
the berries, aud it is obtained by submerging the berries 
in a fibre bag in boiling water and subsequently pressing. 
The mixture of wax and water is then run into cold water, 
when the wax solidilies. It is afterwards collected and 
re-melted into moulds of the size and shape desired. A 
sample of this wax has been forwarded to the Imperial 
Institute for examination, and the following is a report 
which has been received on the subject : 
“The sample forwarded to the Imperial Institute 
consisted of a yellowisli-buff coloured wax which had a 
]ieculiar odour similar to that of myrtle wax from South 
Africa (‘ Cape berry wax ’). 
“The material as received contained 0'31 per cent, of 
moisture, and only 0'17 per cent, of dirt. It yielded 0'06 
per cent, of ash. 
“ The wax was submitted to chemical examination with 
the iollowing results, which are shown in comparison 
with corresponding ligures for a sample of South African 
Myrtle wax examined at the Institute and those recorded 
for commercial my 
rtle wax : 
Present 
sample from 
Colombia 
South 
African 
myrtle wa.k 
Commercial 
myrtle wax 
Melting point 
45 °C. ... 
40-5° c. .. 
,. 40° C. to 48° 
Solidifying point of 
46-4° C. ... 
— 
46° C. 
fatty acids 
Acid value’ ... 
217 
4-1 
3 ta 307 
Saponification value' 
2167 
21i 'I 
205 to 217 
Iodine value (per 
1-03 
ro6 
1-95 to 3'9 
cent.) 
Unsaponifiable mat- 
0-4 
— 
2'5 
ter (per cent.) 
“ From these results it will be seen that this myrtle wax 
from Colombia possesses the general characteristics of 
commercial myrtle wax, of which Myriai argula is stated 
to be one of the usual sources in South America. 
“ A linn of importers in London stated that consignments 
of this wax would probably be worth about £100 to £1 10 
per ton (May, 1918), compared with a pre-war price of 
about _^'40 to £45 per ton. Owing to its low melting 
point, this wax could not be used for all the purposes of 
Carnauba wax, for which there is a very large demand at 
present, especially for the manufacture of cartons to be 
used as food containers.’’ 
Arboloco.® 
'Phis is a small tree which is common in the volcanic 
region of Manizales. It is known botanically as Moniimoa 
Moriliziaiiti, C.H.S., and belongs to the natural order 
Composilfv, a family more noted for its beautiful garden 
Powers than for useful timbers. It is an erect tree 
growing up to about 10 metres in height. Its bole is 
hollow, but the wood is very durable and is much used 
for house building, especially as flooring beams. The wood 
is also prized for the manufacture of billiard cues. It is 
said that the tree is peculiar to the volcanic region around 
Manizales, but I have also seen it on the Cordillera 
Oriental at a similar altitude. This tree might however 
with advantage be planted in other parts of Colombia, 
where the lands are suitable, and where the temperature 
is about 16“ C., as the tree is of rapid growth and the 
timber very suitable for the construction of small 
houses, &c. 
Manizales to the North of Caldas. 
We left Manizales on November 4th in the early after- 
noon and reached Neira at dusk. The road for the iirst 
part was along a track half way up the hill slope, from 
which we had an excellent view of the valley. The hill 
sides are extensively cultivated and the region fairly well 
populated. The arboloco, to which I havfe previously 
referred, is the most striking feature of the vegetation, 
forming little forests here and there. 
Neira is situated about 19 kilometres from Manizales, at 
an altitude of 1,941 metres, and has a temperature (average) 
of about 19“ C. It is a very important region for cattle, 
and produces a good deal of agricultural produce, for 
which it linds a ready sale at Manizales. Gold and silver 
are found on the Cordillera Central, and the forests of the 
mountains contain a great variety of useful and valuable 
timbers. Salt springs are also found. 
The town has an electric light plant ; two IrilUidoras for 
coffee ; one tannery ; also three sugar-mills worked by 
power and 106 wooden sugar-mills, moved by animal 
power, which produces a total of about 65,930 arrobas' 
of panda. 
From Neira we proceeded on the following afternoon 
to Aranzazu, a distance of some 20 kilometres ; it lies 
slightly lower than Neira, being 1803 metres above sea- 
level. 'Phe municipality is a small one, the principal 
industry is that of coffee. There is a Irilladoia for 
cleaning coffee, a tannery, a sugar-mill worked by water 
power, and 59 others worked by animal force, which 
produces a total of 15,600 arrobas of panda. A factory 
for the manufacture of blankets from locally produced 
wool has recently commenced operations. 
The next day we proceeded to Salamina, a distance 
of 30 kilometres from Aranzazu, which lies 1812 metres 
above sea-level. Salamina is a very important agri- 
cultural centre. It maintains three /r/V/uJorus for cleaning 
and preparing coffee ; two Hour mills ; two tanneries ; 
also 35 sugar-cane mills which produce y^une/a to the value 
of $75,000 a year. It also has an electric plant; and 
there are two chocolate factories worked by electric 
l^ower. The area of the municipality is 450 square kilo- 
metres, it has according to the last census 20,000 
inhabitants, and the average temperature is said to be 
about 19° C. 
On N ovember 7th we proceeded from Salamina to Pacora, 
arriving there at dusk. This town lies a trifle higher than 
Salamina, there being about 7 metres difference, the 
average temperature is about 18' C. It is an important 
town and has an electric plant, and sustains a coffee 
trillailora, a Hour mill, as well as a number of sugar mills 
of different classes, producing a total of 34,112 arrobas of 
panda. 
Fig. VIP— Lads weaving Panama Hats. 
Milligrams of potash for I gram of wax. 
Mad tree. 
10 
Arroba = 25 lbs. 
