Vol,. XVI r. No. 425. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



2C5 



tained considerably more rjitrogen than the roots, at all 

 stages of growth. 



Ciit'r arietininn (the chick-pea of Europe) developed 

 nodules chiefly on the primary roots, although from lifteen to 

 twenty days after germination the large nodules shrank and 

 numerous small ones formed on the smaller roots. Nitrogen 

 increased from 0'23 per cent, in the dried plant just after 

 germination to 055 per cent at the end of the seedling stage. 

 The above-ground portions of the seedlings are reported to 

 have contained from five to six times as much nitrogen as 

 the below-ground portions. 



Cro/a/aria juiicea produced an abundant supply of 

 nodules throughout the root .system of healthy plants, espe- 

 cially in the presence of an excess of phosphates. The nitro- 

 gen increased rapidly during growth, the maximum being 

 reached at time of full flowering, and the most rapid increase 

 occurring between the eleventh and twenty-fifth days of 

 growth. Nitrogen accumulation appeared to be in direct 

 proportion to an excess of phosphoric acid and lime, while 

 excess potash gave distinctly inferior results, except in the 

 very early seedling stage.s. 



This plant is cultivated very commonly in gardens in 

 the West Indies under the name of 'sweet pea'. It is largely 

 ^rown in India as a source nf the fibre known as sunn hemp. 



Nodules first appeared on J'h'isea/iis »!n>/g;o radiatv.s 

 (woolly pyrol) when the seedlings were about ten days old. 

 With an excess of potash and lime small nodules formed 

 largely on the primary roots, but extended throughout the 

 root system as the plant approached the flowering stage. An 

 excess of lime encouraged nitrogen fixation, and nodule 

 development particularly, while similar results were obtained 

 with an excess of phosphoric acid. 



ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY. 



Early in 1917 the President of the Board of Trade 

 api ointed a Committee 'to consider and report what steps 

 should be taken, whether by legislation or otherwise, to 

 insure that there shall be an adequate and economical supply 

 of Electric Power for all classes of consumers in the United 

 Kingdom, particularly industries which depend upon a cheap 

 supply of power for their development.' 'Ihe Report of that 

 Committee, dated April 29 last, has now been issued. An 

 iirticle dealing with this report appears in The Board nj Trade 

 /ouriia/, .May -30, 1918, from which the following extracts 

 are taken- — 



The supply of such power was now seen to be virtually 

 as essential as labour and materials, in do far as it affected 

 ■economical production. 



The extent to which electricity might be further applied 

 :to cheaper and better mecbanicil production, to improved 

 railway service, toelectro chemical and metallurgical processes, 

 to agriculture, and to domestic labour-saving apparatus, was 

 ■altogether incalculable. 



It should be recognized that cheap electrical power 

 would in the future be essential to the industrial progress of 

 this country. The concentration of large generating units in 

 larger and fewer power stations was urgently required in 

 order to reduce the cost of industrial power to a minimum, 

 to conserve coal, and to get thu fullest value out of every 

 ton consumed. 



There were to-day in the United Kingdom about 600 

 bodies generating electricity for public purposes, apart from 

 the large number of manufacturers, collieries, and others, who 

 generated their own power. The Cummiitee had no doubt 

 that these sepaiate stations could be reduced to a relatively 

 small number, and that the country would greatly benefit by 

 the concentration. 



It i.s believed that as a result of the improvements re- 

 commended, and tbi- development which'may be expected to 

 proceed from them, the use of electricity for domestic pur- 

 poses, such as lighting, heating, cooking, and small power, 

 will greatly increase. The cumulative effect of a really cheap 

 supply of electricity, on town conditions in particular, would 

 be most marked. The saving of labour would be great, while 

 the reduction of air pollution by smoke would result in a 

 lower death rate from bronchial diseases and phthisis. 



WEST INDIAN PRODUCTS. 



DRUGS AND SPICES ON THE LONDON 

 MARKET. 



Mr. J. R. .Jackson, A.L.S., has forwarded the fol- 

 lowing report on the London drug and spice market 

 for the month of .June 1918: — 



Though our report on the London produce markets for 

 the month of June varies but very little from that of the 

 previous month in the matter of bulk of produce brought 

 forward, or of prices demanded, the approach of the holiday 

 season is being more marked this year than has been the case 

 in previous years since the outbreak of the war. The people 

 have found that war weariness must have a reaction, and are 

 taking what pleasures they can get of a modified form. The 

 produce markets are always affected by the holiday season, 

 and this year is no exception to the rule, purchasers being 

 content to buy only from hand to mouth. The following 

 are some of the chief items. 



GINGER. 



This article has been advancing in price for some 

 time, and at auction on the 13th of the month the quotations 

 were as follows: common to good common .Jamaica ll2j. Qd. 

 to 115.V. percwt., and medium to good 120^-. to libs. Washed 

 Cochin fetched 97.s. 6(/., and Calicut 9-5v., while 92.y 'od. was 

 paid for Japanese and Sierra Leone. A week later the prices 

 had advanced as follows: washed Cochin 97j'. %d. to lOOj., 

 Calicut 9.5y. to lOO.f. , and Japanese 92.v. 6^/. At the close of 

 the month prices were still advancing, the quotations being 

 WQs. to lib-, for washed rough Cochin, and 102j^. fid. for 

 Japanese. 



SAR.SAPAKILL.4. 



This drug was in fairly good supply at auction on 

 June 6, when the offerings were: Lima-Jamaica JJ bales, 

 none of which found customers. Of 26 bales of native 

 .Jamaica offered, 23 found purchasers at an advance 

 of from Zd. to Qd. per Bb. on previous rates. Fair red, 

 and dull red and yellow, mixed, fetched from 4.v. %d. 

 to is. \0d. per lb., while for common yellow and 

 part mouldy, 4.v. 2id. per lb. was paid. Seven bales of Moa- 

 duras were also offered at the same auction, but were unsold. 



CITRIC ACID, ANNATTO SKED, CASHEW JJUTS, LIME OIL, 

 LIME jniCE, AND TAMARINDS. 



At the beginning of the month citric acid was tirm 

 at 'is. 5(/. per tt)., which price was maintained to the 

 end. At auction on the 6th annatto seed was repre- 

 sented by 60 packages, but no sales were effected. At 

 the same auction 2 packages of cashew nuts were offered, 

 but none sold. West Indian distilled lime oil was quoted 

 towards the end of the month at 6.v. 6r/. per 8), while 

 lime juice, which has been in good demand, was fetch- 

 ing from .3,v. 6</. to \s. per gallon. It was stated towards 

 the end of the month that (juantities were arriving at Liver- 

 pool and Bristcl. It was also stated in the middle of tha 

 month that W( St Indian tamarinds were scarce, and muclt 

 wanted. 



