150 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



May 10, 1913. 



WEST INDIAN COTTON. 



Messrs. Wolstenholme and Holland, of Liverpool, 

 ■write as follows, under date April 21, with reference 

 6o the sales of West Indian Sea Island cotton : — 



During the past fortnight a good business has been done 

 :in West Indian Sea Lsland cotton and prices are fairly steady 

 for the njedium qualities and very firm for the finer sorts. 



Til'- sales amount to over 400 bales and include Mont- 

 serrat, .Anguilla, St. Kitts, Nevis and Tobago ITrf. to isd, 

 Barbados IDd. to iOd., with a few exceptionally good lots 

 22c/. to 22.W;., a few St. Vincent at 'llld., and a few 

 -Antigua 19d. with an exceptionally fine parcel at 'l'2]A. 



The report of Messrs. Henry W. Frost & Co., on 

 "Sea Lsland cotton in the Southern States, for the week 

 ending April 12, is as follows: — 



There was a limited demand for the Planters' crop lots, 

 'resulting in the sale of two small crops at .30c. for France, 

 "which together with a lot of full I*>xtra fine at 2So , made up 

 -the above sales. 



Since the close of the report there has been some enquiry 

 -for lie odd bags otf in preparation, but at prices below the 

 ■view.s of the Factors now holding the larger portion of the 

 unsold stock. 



We quote, viz: 



Extra Fine 28c. to 29c. = 16d. to IG.W. c.i.f., in 5 per cent. 



Fully Fine 2Gc. to 27c. = \St\d.\o\h\d. „ 



Fine 25c. = U'cf. 



-EKtra Fine off U.,^ = 12irf. „ „ „ „ 



in preparation; - " " " " 



f^">'F'"«,.«ff)lSc.to20c.= 10UtollW. „ „ ., , 

 an preparation j - _ " i> > i 



Fine off in \ ^ ^^^^^ 



iprcparation J - n u , n 



This report shows that the total exports of Sea 

 Island cotton from the United States to Liverpool, 

 Manchester and Havre, up to April 12, 1913, were 501 

 Ijalfs, l,(i:]7 bales, and 4. ION bales, respectively. 



n 3) 



Experiments have been conducted in Hawaii to test the 

 ■value of dynamite in opening up impervious subsoil which 

 occurs in certain parts of that territory. A low velocity 25 per 

 cent, dynamite was used, the sticks being 1 {-inch in diameter 

 by 8 inches long, and placed to a depth of about 2.', feet, vary- 

 ing with the nature and condition of the soil. The results 

 olitained wert- satisfactory, the sub.soil was opened up, and the 

 cost of the experiment was about 3c. i)er hole, thus making 

 the cost of 8 feet x 8 feet spacing (the usual distance) 

 S20"40 per acre. In prepnring the land for planting, the 

 •ordinary ploughing and cultivating operations have to be 

 jjerfoimed in addition. (From the Experiment Station 

 Mecord, February 1913) 



HEREDITY AND MUTATION. 



In his fifth lecture at the lloyal College of Science 

 Dr. G.ites described the mutations obtained by Tower in 

 various species of potato beetle (Leptinotar.=a), and also tho.se 

 discovered by Morgan in the vinegar Hy (Drosopkil'i ampelo- 

 ji/iilii). The eyes are normally red, and mutations were 

 obtained by the successive dropping out of factors, giving 

 races with pink, vermilion, orange, and 'eosin' eyes. Four 

 mutations in body colour, and no le-s than nine in wing 

 characters, appeared. 



The experiments of Ularinghem in producing mutations 

 in maize as a result of mutilations or traumatisms were 

 referred to; also the work of Klebs, who in certain cases 

 obtained new types, which bred true, by subjecting species 

 of Sempervivum to light of various colours. 



Regarding the causes of mutations, it is evident that 

 the germ plasm, like all protoplasm, is responsive to stimuli, 

 so that various environmentil changes may induce mutations 

 but it is probable that, for the germ cells to be affected, 

 the stimuli must be applied at the time when they are 

 maturing. 



Nothing is yet known concerning the cause of 'spon- 

 taneous' mutations in pure lines. In Oenothera, the chromo- 

 some distributions are evidently concerned in the origin of 

 various forms and the condition of germinal instability which 

 exists in 0. Laimtrckiana and other Oenotheras, has probably 

 been induced by previous crossing. When it becomes 

 possible to control th** production of mutations, we shall have 

 made an advance of great practical value in plant and animal 

 breeding The first step to this i-i a knowledge of the causes 

 of mutations and the nature of the germinal change which 

 occurs when any iDUt;\liou originates. (Taken from 

 the Gardeneri Chronicle for March 29, 1913.) 



WORMS IN SHEEP. 



Some interesting experiments conducted with the oKjecb 

 of investigating the following points in connexion with worms 

 in sheep, have recently been carrie I out in >few South 

 Wales and are described in the Aiirieuliiival Gn-.elte nf X, iiy 

 South lla/es for February 3, 1913. 



In the firs: place the danger of eating the llesh of 

 a sheep which had beeu treated with arsenic given as 

 a vermifuge wis enquired into, and analysis showed that 

 neither the muscles nor the intestinal organs contained any 

 trace of the drug after slaughter. 



Another experifnent was undertaken to test the ettioacy 

 of sidphur inhalations for lung-worms in sheep. It was 

 proved that this method was very effective, the sheep in the 

 majority of cases losing their cough, and a general improve- 

 ment iu condition being also noticed. 



The third investigation dealt with the value of 

 different drenches for stomach and intestinal worms, and the 

 definite conclusion was arrived at that: 'drenching is particu- 

 larly useful in those cases of morlality due to worms, which 

 occur at the beginning of the infestation.' In the latter 

 stages, however, when the ill etftcts are due to the progress- 

 ively increising poverty and anaiuia, which a long-con- 

 tinued and severe infestation brings about, good nutritious 

 food was consider»j^ to be of much more .service than the 

 administration of drugs. 



