VoL.-XII. No. 286. 



THE AGRICULTITRAL NEWS. 



115 



fences puts difficulties in the ways of etlicient 

 quarantine. The best solution would appear to lie in 

 the establishment of temporary leys as already sug- 

 gested. The intermediate cultivation would eradicate 

 infection, whilst the crop produced would pay for the 

 application of the measure and at the same time 

 bring in a taiigiblc financial profit. In a matter such as 

 this, and also in the matter of curing tick infestations 

 by spraying or dipping, united action is essential. The 

 attitude of the owner who says he will not act unless 

 others do, has much to support it, and if sufficiently 

 strong should be effective in the long run in arousing 

 public opinion to the necessity for siiingent legislation, 



Another point which should not be lost 

 sight of in connexion with the subject of ticks 

 is the varying susceptibility of difierent breeds 

 of cattle to the pest. It does not directly con- 

 cern the improvement of pastures but may be 

 noted here. A correlation has been found to exist 

 between the characters of the hide of animals and 

 susceptibility. The Zebu hide seems to be more 

 resistant than that, say, of the Hereford. It would 

 appear to offer greater mechanical resistance to the 

 bite and it is believed that the greater secreting 

 powers of the sebaceous glands in the Zebu give rise 

 to conditions that are repellent to the parasite. 



Reference may also be made briefly to other 

 diseases with which pastures become infected. 'Husk' 

 or 'hoose' is caused by a worm parasite of the throat. 

 This organism, like the hook worm which infests the in- 

 testinal tract of many animals, spends a part of its life- 

 history on pastures provided that conditions are suffi- 

 ciently moist. The pi'evention of these complaints there- 

 fore depends largely upon efficient drainage. Of the 

 contagious diseases of bacterial origin anthrax is one 

 of the worst. Pastures in which eases have recently 

 occurred should be ploughed up and other crops plant- 

 ed for several years. 



In conclusion it is well to bear in mind that quite 

 apart from the production of fodder and of healthy 

 surroundings, a pasture should afford the animals 

 a certain degree of comfort. Provision of shade is 

 desirable and a suitable tree for this purpose is 

 the Saman {Pithecolobium savian). Incidentally the 

 pods of this tree are nutritious and are much 

 enjoyed by cattle. Drinking w-atcr is also appre- 

 ciated by the animals in the field, though care has 

 to be taken to keep it clean and free. from infection. 

 Not the least desirable feature of a pasture is an 

 efficient fence which, as already pointed out, aids in 



preventing the introduction and spread of disease: 

 it also renders superfluous the unnatural custom of 

 tethering and the constant worrying of cattle-minders, 

 thereby increasing the comfort of the animals and 

 improving the pasture through more regular and even 

 grazing. 



SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



THE POSITION OP THE AUSTRALIAN 

 SUGAR PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION. 



The editorial in a recent number of the Australian 

 Sugar Journal (February G, li)I3) considers the position of 

 the above organization in relation to the Au.stralian sugar 

 industry as a whole. It is pointed out first of all that the 

 Association is based on the assumption that the interests of 

 cane grower and sugar manufacturer are identical on every 

 feature of the industry save alone the one critical que.stion of 

 the price of caiie. A shortage in the supply of cane is 

 ruinous to the manufacturer; any failure in milling capacity 

 must react disastrously upon those who have cane to sell. 

 The value of meetings of the Association in tlie adjustment 

 of these relations, has evidently proved as great as the 

 benefits derived from the activities of the organization in 

 following up, and guarding the interests of the Association 

 in matters of political policy and economics, particularly as 

 rej'ards labour questions and the law of supply and demand. 



Another development which this combination of 

 growers and manufacturers has made practicable, is the 

 establishment of a powerful cooperative insurance com- 

 pany, which provides for the mutual protection of all its 

 members against claims under the Employer's Liability Act, 

 and the covering of all fire risks over estate and mill buildings 

 and the growing crops. Another object vifhich the Association 

 has achieved is the establishment of its own monthly news- 

 paper, which is accepted as an authoritative exponent of the 

 views of all classes of sugar producers. 



Finally, there is no part of the society's movement which 

 has received more careful consideration (though the object has 

 not yet been attained) than the establishment of fully 

 equipped experiment stations, such as those to be found in 

 Hawaii and Java. Questions of cane varieties, combating 

 of pests and diseases, choice of manures and cultivation, 

 rank side by side with those of chemical and machinery con- 

 trol, and the appointment of technical advisors to visit the 

 central factories 



Interesting facts are presented in the Agricultural Joiir- 

 nal of the Union of South AJrica, for January 191.i, in 

 connexion with the cultivation of the sugarcane in that 

 country. Since the climate of South Africa is only .-emi- 

 tropical the planter has to wait two years for each crop The 

 settler desiring good sugar land judges the soil by the vege- 

 tation, the more luxuriant it is, the better. In starting 

 a plantation the wild vegetation has to be cleared; this may 

 cost from 30s. to £G per acre. Tops of old cane are planted, 

 and they sprout in about three days, but as already stated 

 take two years to mature. The yield is from "Jl tons to 

 30 tons of cane per acre. 



