Vol. XVn. No. 430. 



THE AGRICULTniLAL XEWS. 



335 



It may seem a far cry, but perhaps some day it will be 

 "recugnized that any insect or pathogenic organism which 

 sitilizes as a host some particular plant, uo matter in what 

 part of the world that host plant may exist, without proper 

 (protective measures becomes in this day of modern trans- 

 portation facilities a potential pest throughout the entire 

 region where such a plant may be grown. 



California has had an opportunity to view the case in 

 its ditl'erent aspects. The price of her knowledge has been 

 alternative between destruction of her citrus industry, and 

 the annual e.xpenditure of large sums of money to keep under 

 control a host of these introduced enemy aliens, brought into 

 her midst before the potentialities of such things began to be 

 appreciated. Viewing her experiences in retrospect, she now 

 ipurchases insurance against their furtl^r introduction by 

 a judicious system of quarantine and a trained inspection 

 service exceeded by none, and equalled by few. It is believed 

 that a few pages taken from the experiences of our state will 

 well repay the trouble. 



'THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE'S INVESTI- 

 GATIONS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF 

 EMPIRE RESOURCES- 



At a recent meeting oi the Executive Council of 

 the Imperial Institute, presided over by Lord Islington, 

 information was submitted concerning a large number of 

 investigations in which the Institute has been engaged during 

 the past few months. The subjects of these investigations 

 have been mainly new or little known raw materials, which 

 have been brought into prominence by the war. 



The general scarcity of paper, in spite of the recent 



• allocation of additional shipping for its importation, con- 

 tinues to invest the discovery of new sources of supply with 



. great interest for manufacturers and traders. Though the 

 present problem is largely one of shortage of ship's tonnage, 

 the steady growth of the worlds demands for paper renders it 



. imperative that new paper-making materials should be 

 brought into use, if prices are to be kept down after the war. 

 Among the materials examined at the Imperial Institute 

 during the present summer have been grasses from South 

 Africa, the Federated Malay States, Australia, and St. Helena. 

 Samples of 'Tambookie' and similar grasses from the Pre- 



- toria district gave a high yield of pulp of good quality, capable 

 of conversion either into excellent brown paper or (after 

 bleaching) into white paper. Lalang grass— which grows 

 abundantly in the Malay States, and hitherto has been so 

 little esteemed that on the rubber plantations it is regarded 

 as a troublesome weed — was found on investigation at the 

 Imperial Institute to compare favourably as a paper making 

 "material with Algerian esparto grass, though not quite so 

 good as Spanish esparto. Bamboo grass from the Northern 

 Territory of Australia came up to about the same standard. 

 All these grasses would be suitable for utilization in their 

 countries of origin for the manufacture of either pulp or 

 paper, and full reports on their properties as paper- 

 making materials have been drawn up by the Imperial 

 Institute for the Governments concerned. 



The shortage of shipping is limiting not only the imports 

 of raw materials into the United Kingdom, but the exports 

 of manufactured articles, with the result that the outlying 

 portions of the Empire have a new and compelling motive 

 for seeking among their own resources the wherewithal for 

 the supply of their needs. For example, the restrictions on 

 the export of galvanized iron have stimulated interest in 



several colonies in the suitability of '"le local clays for the> 

 manufacture of bricks, tiles, etc., lor building purposes. 

 The Government authorities of Northern Nigeria have beea 

 experimenting in this way, and the Imperial Institute, after 

 a large number of technical trials with samples sent to the 

 Institute, has been able to suggest various methods of 

 improving on the results obtained from the first experiments 

 in Nigeria. 



A sample of clay received from Tasmania, and described 

 as kaolin (china clay) proved on examination to be a tire 

 clay, suitable in the crude state for the production of high- 

 grade refractory bricks. This enhances its importance ia 

 view of recent metallurgical developments in Australia, and 

 further investigations have been recommended. The washed 

 clay is of a white colour, and if mixed with other suitable 

 materials could be utilized for the manufacture of porcelaia 

 and pottery. 



BREEDING NEW SEEDS. 



Addressing a meeting of the Agricultural Seed Associa- 

 tion of the United Kingdom at the Cannon-Street Hotel on 

 •July 1-5, on the aims and objects of the National Institute of 

 Agricultural Botany, which it is proposed to establish at 

 Cambridge, Mr. Lawrence Weaver, l)irector of Supolies, 

 Food Production Department, according to The Tims of 

 •July 16, 1918, said that we stood at the threshold of a new 

 reconstructive era for agriculture. The labourer was certain 

 of a living wage: the farmer was fairly certain that for a good 

 many years to come he would receive an adecjuate return for 

 his produce;the scientist had the knowledge that his efforts 

 would be better supported by the Government; and the 

 trader and distributer were satisfied that business would be- 

 better organized largely by their own efforts. 



The proposed Institute of Agricultural Botany, he 

 thought, would command the confidence of the farmer and of 

 the seed trade. As a foundation for the trust fund he had 

 received £10,000 down from Sir Robert McAlpine, and a 

 further £1 000 a year for five years. Four others had given 

 £4,000 altogether. The Millers' Association had resolved 

 to raise £-5,000, and the Corn Merchants' Association had 

 agreed to open a subscription list. 



The Institute was not intended to be educational, but 

 its purpose was to introduce new breeds of seeds, and to 

 improve existing varieties. He desired it to be regarded as 

 a grand co-ordination in the improvement of seeds and plants. 

 It would not compete with the seed trade or control it, bnc 

 would help it, making use of trade channels for distribution. 

 At Cambridge there was already a plant breeding institute 

 under the direction of Professor Biffen, who was one of the 

 great assets of British agriculture. He had, however, beea 

 enormously hampered by lack of funds and helpers, and the 

 chief function of the new Institute would be to take over and 

 carry on, on a commercial basis, the valuable efforts of 

 Professor Biffen. 



Mr. G. P. .Milne, the chairman, announced farther 

 donations amounting to £9,350, and a resolution was carried 

 welcoming the scheme in the interests of British agriculture 

 and of the seed trade. 



Mr. Weaver said that he would call a meeting of the 

 subscribers to the trust fund, and invite them to adopt a 

 draft deed governing the Institute. The Board of .Agricul- 

 ture would provide all the money for building and equippinj; 

 the seed testing -tati 'ii. which w.juld form part of the 

 Institute. 



Subscriptions in the room brought jp the total from th^ 

 Seed Trade Association to over 10,000 guineas- 



