156 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



May 10, 1913. 



^^2^^7^^ 



GLEANINGS. 



It is stated in the Antigua ,S'»>i, (April 5, 1913; that 

 at the last meeting of the Antigua Horticultural 

 Society, held on March 26, the rules already drafted were 

 confirmed. At present the society is composed of over 100 

 members. The President of the society is the Bishop of 

 Antigua. 



The value of the tulip tree ( Thespesia popvlnen) as a green 

 dressing has recently been investigated in Ceylon. It is 

 considered that this plant ought to be more widely employed 

 as a green manure for tobacco. The composition of the ash 

 shows that it is rich in lime and potash, the latter constituent 

 being largely required for successful tobacco growing. (From 

 Tropical Life, for February 1913 ) 



It is stated in the St. Croix Avis that the Agricultural 

 Society proposes to hold an agricultural and industrial 

 exhilntioii in January next, and in order that the public may 

 have time to prepare to compete for the prizes which will be 

 ottered, an account is given in the paper of the lists of awards. 

 The society hopes for some help from the Government and 

 expects to be able to distribute at least ^500 in prizes. 



The Atmales di' L'liistilut Kational Agronomirme con- 

 tains a paper describing an investigation of the different ways 

 in which phosphorus and calcium occur in milk castin. It 

 is concluded that phosphoric acid and calcium occur in the 

 form of calcium comliined with the acid, probalily the 

 tri-calcic phosphate, and as phosphoric acid itself, held by the 

 protein and susceptible of being displaced by hydrolosis or 

 saponification. 



In West Indian educational circles it may be of interest 

 to learn tliat a recent invention has been made in regard to 

 rubber bladders for footballs. It is well known that the 

 India rubber bladder of the usual leather case football has 

 the disadvantage that it is damaged very easily if sand 

 gets between the rubber and the leather cover. In the India 

 h'liliUr Journal for March 29, 1913, it is stated that bladders 



are now made covered with a textile for the purpose of 



strengthening and protecting the upper surface of the bladder. 



This should also tend to lesson the rapid decomposition of 



rubber that occurs in the Troi)ics, 



It is stated in Th" Board <-/' Trade Journal for March 27, 

 1913, that from 20.000 to 22,000 bales of kapok were 

 destroyed by fire at Samarang, on or about March 14, 1913. 

 If the statement is accurate, this quantitj', together with 

 about 14,000 bales burnt at Sourabaya some six weeks prev- 

 iously, iiccounts for 15 per cent, of the entire crop. Prices 

 have consequently risen 2c. per kilog. in India, and 1 to 

 l.'.c. per kilog. in Amsterdam. 



A circular despatch from the Secretary of State for the 

 Colonies is published in the Barbados Official Gazettt (April 

 25,1913), in which the attention of the Government is directed 

 to the forthcoming International P>xhibition which is to be 

 opened at Ghent in April next. One of the most important 

 features as regards the tropics will be the display of exhibits 

 illustrating the nature of, and the efforts of Rritish adminis- 

 tration to cope with, the various contagious diseases that are 

 common in hot climates. 



A copy of a Plant Protection Ordinance has recently 

 been received from the Director of Agriculture, Nyasaland. 

 This Ordinance prohibits the landing of plants elsewhere 

 than at Port Herald and enforces disinfection. The Ordin- 

 ance also provides for the control or eradication of insect 

 pests or pknt diseases within the Protectorate itself. Any 

 person found guilty of an offence against the Ordinance is 

 liable to a penalty not exceeding £50. 



The cultivation of Para rubber has continued to increase 

 in the Straits Settlements, the total area planted with this 

 product being about 135,000 acres. Pine-apples, which have 

 commanded a good price during the past year have been 

 planted largely as a catch crop with Para rubber. The price 

 for coco nuts in the same country has been generally higher 

 than in the last few years and considerable attention, 

 though not as much as is deserved, is being given to this cul- 

 tivation. (From C'lilonial Reports — Annual, No. 750,1911.) 



Reference is made in a recent number of the Australian 

 Sugar Journal to a new mechanical cane cutter now under 

 trial in Louisiana. About 2 acres of cane land have been 

 set aside for the trial and the machine has made a series of 

 successful short runs The longest continuous run was 

 between GO and 70 feet. The stoppages were caused by an 

 occasional stalk striking some exposed guide rod or nut of the 

 machine, thus interfering with the even feed of the cane, and 

 also by some dithculty in u'etting rid of the trash after it had 

 been stripped. 



A note in Nat are (March (!, 1913) refers to the memorial 

 to the late Sir J. 1). Hooker, which has been placed at the 

 Parish Church, Kew. The memorial consists of a mural tablet 

 of coloured marble, bearing the following inscription: 'ltil7- 

 1911, Joseph Dalton Hooker, O.M., G C.S.I, C.B, M.D., 

 ]).C.L., LL.D., Associete Etranger of the Institute of 

 France, Knight of the I'russian Order "I'our le Mcrite", 

 sometime President of the Royal Society, for twenty years 

 Director of the Royal Botanic TJardens, Kew. Born at 

 Halesworth 3Uth June 1817, died at Windlesham lOth 

 December 1911. Thq, w-orka of the Lord are great sought 

 out of all theiu that hath pleasure therein.' 



