1 Dec., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 569 
residency of Kediri. The immense quantity of volcanic ashes, the volume of 
which may be calculated at at least one cubic kilometer of solid rock, ejected in 
the atmosphere, occasioned terrible electric discharges, which may have caused 
the torrential rains over the whole island at a time when dry weather is the rule. 
Besides the action of the ash and sand on the cane by breaking leaves and 
knocking down the stems, another curious phenomenon is reported from every 
part of the land where the ash has come down, which means a circle having a 
radius of 250 miles. The ashes gradually entered between the leaf-sheaths and 
the stem, where they formed a layer of mud with the subsequently falling rain- 
water, which covered the buds of the cane and the root beginning and induced 
them to germinate. The old canes were covered with young roots and sprouts, 
which by their growth extracted sucrose from the cane and spoiled the juice. 
Moreover, the sharp ashes, consisting of feldspar, pyroxen, and magnetic 
iron, adhering to the cane wear out the mill rollers considerably, so that they 
look as if they were highly polished. The ashes carried along by the current 
of juice interfere with the proper measuring of the juice, as they leave a thick 
muddy layer in the measuring tanks after the juice is discharged. The juice- 
heaters are very soon choked with the mud, and the manufacturers are only rid 
of this impediment after it passes the settling tanks, where the ash rapidly 
subsides, owing to its high specific gravity of 25. Owing to the unfavourable 
meteorological circumstances, the crop is sure to fall below estimates, especially 
‘in the eastern parts of the island. Some experts even went so far as to 
prophesy a loss of 25 per cent. over the whole island, but the crop in the 
western and central districts is so very satisfactory that it makes up for a good 
deal of the inferior output in the eastern half. Ido not believe the whole crop 
will come down below 10 per cent. under the estimate. : 
AN INDIAN EISTEDDFOD. 
The idea of holding an Histeddfod at Sylhet, in India, sounds rather 
strange, but, as there is a close affinity between the Welsh and Bengali 
languages, it is not so very surprising that the Welsh Institution should feel at 
home in Bengal. Amongst many competitions between the 220 persons who 
entered for them was one which caused great amusement. It was a reading 
competition. In one portion of the paragraphs to be read, the piece was 
unpunctuated, and in the other the words were all run into each other. We 
give the pieces, as they may cause some amusement to our young readers, and. 
perhaps be an incentive to them to read other articles in the Journal. 
Reading Test (Unpunctuated Piece).—-“‘ Two persons met to one another 
they were strangers though related by marriage but as they possessed observant 
eyes each other’s features they recognised from a description they had had of 
one another from their mutual relatives the following conversation took place 
how are you to-day Iam quite well yesterday I was not so well as you areliving 
near my uncle and aunt tell me how they are to-morrow I hope to see them 
well and how do you like the weather hot is it not cold wind would be very 
acceptable in this manner they talked one subject of conversation led to 
another and time flew on their hands then they shook each other’s cheeks they 
kissed their feet they turned towards their respective destinations.” 
Reading Test (Words Undivided).—““H erestatedwindledfro 
mthousandstonothingalashowrichestakeuntoth 
emselveswingsinthisworldallisbutafleetingbreat 
hwhatwedeemtobethesubstanceisonlyanemptysha 
do w.” 
