Vol. XVIII. No. 437. 



THE aGKIL L'L r L' KAL .S" h Vi .-j 



The Coefficient of Maturity Sugar-cane. 



Some interesting notes ot stinlies in what the ;uithors 

 term the coefficient of maturity of sugar-cane have 

 been forwardeil to this (Office. The authors, Migaku 

 Ishida and Hidezo Sawasaki, of the Government Sugar 

 Experiment Station, Formosa, claim that by determining 

 the ratio of sucrose to 'reducing sugar' (glucose) in the 

 whole stem of the cane, its maturity can be determine<l. 

 They divide the percentage of sucrose by the percentage 

 of "flucose, and term the result the coetflcient of matu- 

 rity, which indicates b3' its value the condition of 

 'maturity or otherwise of the cane. 



This coefficient gradually increases in Formosa 

 from August to November, and then suddenly increases, 

 attaining apparently its maximum in February and 

 March This increase denotes maturity, it is c'aimed, 

 and the figures vary little from year to year for canes 

 of the same variety under similar climatic and soil 

 conditions, the variations being probably chieHy liueto 

 •climatic influences. 



Each variety of cane has its own coefficient of 

 maturity, and therefore may by this be classed_as an 

 ea- ly or late ripening variety, according to the time 

 when it exhibits the maximum. 



In dry weather the temperature exerts the chief 

 iinrtuence on maturity of the cane. A rising tempera- 

 ture under dry conditions is accompanied by a fall in 

 the ratio of sucrose contained in the cane, a falling 

 -temperature causing an increase ot ratio during the 

 •mature period. 



This last observation seems to accord with the 

 •conditions experienced throaghont the West Indies in 

 the abnormally hot reaping season of 1915, which was 

 reflected every where in these islands from Porbo Rico 

 to Trinidad in the low sucrose content of the canes. 



Investigations in the West Indies on the lines taken 



by these Japanese sugar chemists would certainly be 



■of interest, and might lead to more accurate knowledge 



witli regard to the ripening period of the different 



x'arieties of cane, which would be of considerable value. 



The Zebra and Its Hybrids as Domestic 

 Animals. 



In the International Re"ie.w of the Science and 

 Practice of Agricultare, September 191S. there is an 

 interesting note on experiments in breeding zebras or 

 zebra-mules, from which it would seem that some of 

 the h3'brids are promising animals for domestication. 



Three species of zebra are recognized: i^f/'Wi.s- 

 Zi'hra, the common or mountain zebra; E bv/rchdll, 

 and E. {irevyi. Toe latter is heavier than the others, 

 ■with closer and darker stripes. 



The different species of zebra have all been used 

 for crossing, and some seem better suited than others. 

 .BurchelTs zebra (which was used by Professor Ewart 

 for crossing) has been used very aften; the mountain 

 xebra. commim in South Africa, has also been used. 

 For other cros.ses.esp.ecially thos^' i;arried out by the 

 TTnited 4States (.Tovernment, (Jrevy's zebra was used. 

 This latter is somewhat larger tb'i.n the others, being 



•52 to 56 inches high; an aduio animal weighs from 

 770 to -SSo th. It occurs in Abyssinia and Somaliland 

 but it is gradually becoming rarerand rarer, while it is 

 with difficidty transported from the place of capture to 

 countries across the sea. Although it has never beea 

 domesticated, it is docile, and would probably be easy 

 to domesticate and rear. 



The hybrids obtained m the United States are 

 very vigorous, and resist the cold of temperate regions 

 as weH as does the ass They show a decided improve- 

 ment over the parents as regards their form, move- 

 ments, and way of standing. 



I'he cross, she ass x zebra, are very obstinate and 

 hard mouthed, which constitutes an obstacle to their 

 use as working animals. On the contrary, the cro.ss. 

 mare x zebra is more do-ile and traetable.'and can be 

 used like the mule, over which it ha.s the advantage of 

 being much better shaped. 



In crosses made in the United States brtweea 

 mares and zebras, the stripes in the coat of the hybrid 

 were indistinct, and the characters of the mother pre- 

 dominated. In other crosses made in South America 

 and Europe, the characters of the father were pj«aouj- 

 inant, and the stripes were slil! more marked th.in 

 those of the father. 



Potash Salts in the United States ot America. 



The [Jnited. States have suffered in common with 

 other parts of the world, from a shortage of potash for 

 manurial and other purposes, but it has made remark- 

 able efforts|toJsupply the deficency from its own resources. 

 The production during 1917, says the Agricultural 

 Gazelle of Nov Soutli Walex, October 2, 1918, totalled 

 the very favourable amount of 32,8(i6 tons of available 

 K20, which was approximately three and one- third times 

 that turned out in the United States for the previous 

 year, w^hile it was about one-eighth of the amount 

 imported during a normal year prior to the war. 



From mineral sources production was divided mfco 

 four groups— from natural brines, from alunite, from 

 liust from cement mills, and from dusb frorn blasb 

 furnaces. <.)f these four, by far the largesb production 

 was from natural brines, the amount being 20,6.)2 

 tons of available IvJ), having at point of shipment a 

 value of about fil.iU-t.Odl). From alunite (including 

 salts, and crude and roasted alunite) there wore three 

 producers, having a total production of 7,1.53 tons of 

 potash (2,402 tons of available K...O) and having a total 

 value at shipping pijint of about £ 1 90,000. From cement 

 mills 13.582 tons of potash (l,(i21 tons available K20) 

 were produced, the value being .til40,000; while the 

 potash from blast furnaces totalled 2,13-3 tons ( I.S4 ton.9 

 available K,.0) and valucl at .€14.000. 



The production from organic suurces is summarized, 

 these sources being kelp, molasses, residue from distil- 

 leries, wood-ashes, waste Irom sugar refineries, evapora- 

 ted w.rol-ashes, and mi.soellaneous industrial wastes. 

 The total amount of available K.jt.) w-as 7,oOii tons, of 

 the approximate value at shipping point of l78l,20'). 



