Vol. XII. Xo. 28S. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



157 



STUDhNTS' CORNER. 



MAY. 



mation is based upon crosses that have been made between 

 the Zebu (see Fig. 4) and the Hereford breeds (.see Fig. '-i). 

 The results obtained to will Ke lound abstracted on page 152. 



Secoxd Peuiol). 

 Seasonal Notes. 



An examination should be made of those canes lliat are 

 seen dead or dying in the fields on various estates with the 

 object of a.scertaining the cause of death. In connexion with 

 this suggestion read Fungus Notes in this number of the 

 A(/ricullural A^eics. What is the cause of pineapple disease 

 of the young cane plant.' Careful observations .should be made 

 to ascertain whether the eggs of the moth borer which are 

 foun<l on the young cane leaves are parasitized. The eggs 

 are laid in batches and the mass turns black, thus rendering 

 it distinctly visible to the naked eye. 



As regards young plants that have died, an examina- 

 tion will possibly reveal the presence of the 'root' borer in 

 the portion of the stem underground. Is the 'root' borer 

 ever found in the stem ab'ive the level of the soil? 



The sugar factories will now be in full operation. 

 Attention should be given to the matter of weighing 

 canes How may this operation be made to indicate 

 the relative fertility of the diti'erect field.s and the 

 efiFects of difterent manurial treatments? Another impor- 

 tant matter is the efficiency of the mills, and in this 

 connexion read the article in the present number of this 

 jouruHl entitled Multiple Mills. See also the article on the 

 value of the upper ami lower halves of the sugar-cane in 

 the last issue of the Agriodtural News. 



Fir;. 4. V.¥.\w Bull. 



The attention of the student has frequently been 

 directed of late to the importance of breeding selected cattle 

 having in view one of the following objects at a time: 

 (a) labour capacity, (b) meat-producing capacity, (c) milk- 

 yielding capacity. 



Quite recently a suggestive pa[LT on the possibility of 

 producing a new l>reed of cattle for th" Tropics has been 

 published in the Amerkan breeders' Magazine. The infor- 



Fio. 5. Hkeeford Bull. 



In the first generation of the crosses, the Hereford 

 characters are dominant, but the hybrid although resembling 

 the animal shown in Fig. 5 is longer in the leg and more 

 active looking. What is most iraportint, these hybrids were 

 found to remain tick free on tick-infested pastures. 



It is expedient that the student should pay great atten- 

 tion to such a matter as this by observing the characters of 

 any crosses that may be found between Zebus and Herefords, 

 and by comparing their points with those of the animals 

 shown in the accompanying photographs. 



Questions for Candidates 



PRELIMINARY QUESTION.S. 



(1) What do you understand by the term osmosis? 

 Describe the occurrence of this phenomenon in the soil. 



(2) What objections are there to the name 'root borer'? 



INTERMEDIATE QUESTION.S. 



(1) In planting yams, does the size of the set affect 

 development? Can you ex[ilain this? 



(2) Describe any insect pest of yams. 



FINAL QUESTIONS. 



(1) What is 'fancy' molasses? Compare its cost of 

 production with that of muscovado sugar and with that of 

 ordinary molasses. 



(2) Show by means of line drawings the difference in 

 appearance between Phi/talus siaithi and Liyyrus tumidosis. 



Important information is presented in the Qxiarterly 

 ■ lournal of E.rperimeiital Physiology, Vol. VI, Xo. 1, in 

 connexion with the recent results that certain organs in the 

 body can produce substances (hormones), some of which are 

 capable of stimulating the secretion of milk. Experiments 

 were conducted to see if the administration of certain of 

 these glandular extracts could increase the yield and quality 

 of milk under the ordinary conditions of farm practice. It 

 was found that although the injections increased collection 

 of milk in the lower portions of the udder, there was no 

 alteration in the total quantity yielded per diem, nor any 

 variation in the quality of the milk. 



