DEVELOPING THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3174, 27 August 1917, Page 8

DEVELOPING THE EMPIRE

WORK OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE

AN INTERESTING REPORT

A- report on the work of the Imperial Institute, presented to the new Executive Council, shows that the various Bpecial and technical committees established under >the Imperial Institute. Act of last year/are now, actively at work. The report states that investigations have been completed into the composition, value and commercial prospects of a variety of raw materials, derived from no fewer than twenty-four countries in the Overseas Empire. In addition a, number of confidential investigations on raw materials were, conducted for the War Trade Department, the \ Ministry of Munitions, and other Departments directly concerned with the conduct of the war.

Many of tho niaterials examined -promise to be useful to British manufacturers, and to find a ready market in this country if produced in commercial quantities, whilst others may form the basis of new undertakings in the countries themselves. These materials are.' considered by the special committees which have been formed for each Dominion, as well as by the Haw Materials Committee, which includes representatives of the principal of chambers of commerce.

In Egypt increased attention is being given to flax-growing. The area under cultivation has been extended, and now seed has been introduced. A sample of Egyptian flax straw examined yielded about 24 per cent, of soft, fairly lustrous fibre,. which was valued in March bv flax spinners in Belfast at from -£200 to .€220 per ton. As showing Uie rise of prices owing to the war, it may be mentioned that in normal times such fiar would be worth less than <£6G per ton.

As is well known, the bulk of the cotton grown in India, is of short staple and unsuitable for use in Lancashire, In recent years, however, some attention lias been given to the improvement of Indian cotton, and a number of improved varieties have been established and are being produced in commes'cial quantities. Typical samples of these improved kiuds have been examined at tlie Imprial Institute. Oitt of eleven samples, eight were found to be suitable for use m Lancashire, and saleable in Manchester at prices ranging from Id. to 2d. per II). off the current value ior American cotton. < Samples of copra from Queensland were found to be of xood onality, and were valued in London early in the year at 10s. to iEM-per ton, c.i.f. Supplies of similar duality should be readily saleable. 'This is the second sample of Queensland 'copra recently examined at tho Imperial Institute, and the results effectively dispose of the statements that; have been mado that Queensland copra is of poor quality.

At the suggestion of the Imperial Institute cultivation trials have been carried out in Seychelles with the "ajowan" plant and the "mosquito" plant as sources of antiseptic thymol, which used to be imported into this country from Germany, the seed necessary for these trials having been specially procured and sent to Seychelles by the imperial Institute. Samples have reeontly been received at the institute both of ajowan feed grown in Seychelles and of oil distilled in the colony from the mosquito plan).. On analysis "both products have given satisfactory yields of thymol.

An 'important discovery has been made which closely affects the prosperity of Zanzibar. Both that island and tho island of Pembo arc largely dependant on their clovo plantations. In tho last fow years the trees have been attacked "by a disease which could not be (raced to any fungus or insect pest. As « result of tho examination at the Imperial Institute of soils in which afVccted trees were growing, it has been found that tho soils have become acid and deficient, iu limo and phosphates through neglect of cultivation, and .appropriate remedial measures haye been suggested by the institute for trial.

The Technical Information Bureau of tho Imperial Institute has dealt with inquiries from and relating to almost every part of the Empire. At the' request of British manufacturers, steps havo been tnken to ascertain the prospects of producing within tho Umpire cocoa of the Guayaquil type, which is extensively used for tho preparation ol chocolatc on account of its characteristic strength and aroma. Samples of tho two principal types of Guayaquil cocoa imported into this country have been distributed to the interested colonies, and a largo linn of manufacturers in this country has offered to support any attempts to produce such cocoa within the Bmpiro by giving regular orders for supplies.

In South Australia, a proposal has been put forward for tho installation of a. mill to roako paper aud cardboard from cereal straw, large quantities of which are available in that State, but are at present burnt by the. farmers. The institute has furnished comments on the scheme and has supplied information as to a new process for tho production of paper from straw, together with samples of tho paper, and the cost of plant required.

' Jn view, of the present scarcity of potash owing to the stoppage of supplies nont Germany, attempts are being made to utilise other available sources of potash, including the waste from wool washing. Information as to the. various processes of extracting potash from wool Juls been supplied to South Africa, and the possibilities in Australia and New Zoaland arc also receiving attention. til the public exhibition galleries of tlie institute considerable progress has Ju en ,n at id extending tho collections, and Hrriingcnients are in progress for a new Court of Kgrpt. In addition to the general and educational iises made of the collections, saJiiples have been furnished to agricultural institutions of the newest seeds and nuts employed in the manufacture of feeding cakes for animals.