"ملف XX/٥ معلومات عن النباتات في الكويت." [و‎‎٥‎٢] (١٦٢/١٠٥)

REVIEW OF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATIONS AT PRESENT IN
HAND.
Gums and mucilages.
Agar-Agar (1897-98, No. 78). The mucilaginous sea-weed reported
a year ago as found in considerable quantities in the Rangoon bazars
proves to be Catanella impudica, J. Ag. : the Burmese call it Kyauk
pewint. An analysis of it is given in Mr. Hooper’s section of the new
Annual Report of the Industrial Section of the Indian Museum.
This is the first sea-weed found in any quantities in the bazars of India.
They are indeed not common round our coasts, apparently because our
rivers carry so much mud into the sea as to make the water too turbid
for their growth. We have consequently little chance of deriving from
sea-weeds the profitable industry that Japan has, where, as said by
Mr. Hugh M. Smith, Deputy United States Fish Commissioner, in his
report on the sea-weed industries of Japan, they “are among the
most valuable of the aquatic resources and conduce largely to the
prominent rank attained by the fisheries of that country.” Vegetable
isinglass or Agar-Agar and sea-weed glue are the chief products made
in Japan.
Anogeissus latifolia, Wall .—Dhava gum (1908, No. 193). Particu
lars regarding this gum have been collected personally; and a sample
adequate for chemical examination has also been obtained.
Ferula spp. and Dorema spp—Asafcetida (1908, No. 194). Progress
has been made with the enquiry on the nature and origin of these gums.
At present however it is premature to make any report.
Odina Wodier, Roxb.—Gum (1896-97, No. 62). There is a great
variability in the appearance of this gum ; some samples being clear and
light in colour, while others are almost black and insoluble. The en
quiry in order to explain the causes of this difference will be continued.
Canarium spp. (1909, No. 224). The chemical constants of resins
of various species of Canarium have been taken by Mr. Hooper and the
results published by him in the Agricultural Ledger No. 3 of 1908-09 on
Pwe-nyet.
Lac (1908, No. 196). The enquiry which has been undertaken to
ascertain what ultimately useful part, if any, the admixture of rosin
plays in the manufacture of shell-lac, is in progress. It is apparent that
more refinement is still necessary in our methods of chemically deter-