Vol. XIV. No. 338. 



TIIK ACKIcri.TTKAL XKWS. 



121 



experiments will have to be undertaken to settle 

 several questions, in order to pul the cultivation on 

 ,-i satisfactory basis. The situations in which the bean 

 will best grow musl be determined; whether the bush 

 form or the climbing form is th< most suitable; and, if 

 the latter, whether supports must be provided, or 

 whether i I maj be allowed to trail along the ground; 

 what are the besi distances aparl for planting; what, if 

 any. is the besi machiner) for use in the cultivation and 

 the reaping of the crop. Ail th< se questions the circular 



sts as affording r a for practical ami profitable 



experiment. 'I'll'' example of the way in which the 

 cultivation "I' Sea Island con, in has grown to be 



msiderable industry in tic smaller West Indian 

 islands encourages the hope thai a similar result may 

 lie obtained in the cult ival ion oJ I he I. una bean. For 

 a- this bean is an article of world-wide use as a food 

 both for man and stock, there is no likelihood of 

 over-production, or of a sudden tall in the presenl 

 average markel price of 4c. per tb. 



The seem id publication referred to above is a leaflet, 

 prepared by the Agricultural Superintendent of 

 St. Vincent, for distribution chiefly among the peasant 

 proprietors of that island, on the cultivation of Maize. 

 It may lie considered as supplementary to No. 7ii of 

 the Pamphlel Series lately issued by the Imperial 

 Department, entitled Indian < 'urn, as it contains in 

 simple language the chief points as to the best lines on 

 which the cultivation of Maize may be tried in an 

 island like St. Vincent, as recommended in that 

 pamphlet. Considering that emphasis is laid on the 

 advisability of growing a bean crop in rotation with 

 .Maize, the desirability of using the Lima bean in this 

 way may be pointed out, especially if it should be found 

 that the corn stalks may safely be left as supports for 

 the running beans. 



Carbon Dioxide and the Germination of Seeds. 

 An interesting review of a paper appearing in the 

 Proceedings of the Royal Society is to be found in the 

 Agricultural Journal of India for January 1915. 

 It is pointed out in this, that the writer of the paper 

 had previously determined the inhibitory action of 

 carbon dioxide, especially in the seed itself. Germina- 

 tion can also be arrested by the carbon dioxide produced 

 by decaying organic matter in the soil. Especial 

 reference is made in the course of the review to the 

 germinating power of Para rubber seeds. It is well 

 known that in planting the seed under estate condi- 

 tions, it is always desirable to put the seed in the 

 ground within a fortnight. On this account some 

 practicable method of extending the life of the seeds is 

 desirable. It was found that bottling up the seeds 

 with air in Masks gave tar 1» iter results than the ema- 

 il method now in use of packing these seeds in 

 a mixture of charcoal and ashes. It is suggested that 

 the partial pressure of tic carbon dioxide inhibits 

 deterioration; the carbon dioxide is in fact in this case 

 a preservative agent. The reviewer attaches much 

 importance, as regards India to the author's results 

 in regard to green dressings which concern largely the 

 product ion of carbon dioxide in t he soil already 



1- aho\ e. 



Oil Content of Seeds. 



The oil content ol seeds as affected 1>\ tic- nutri- 

 tion of the plant is deall uitli in a paper in thi 

 Journal of Agriculhi d Research, Vol. Ill No. 3. It 

 is concluded that climate is a more potenl fai 

 soil type in controlling the size of the seed and its 

 oil content, probably because climatic conditions 

 largely regulate I hose oi the soil. 



Within ordinarj limits the n lative fertility of tin 

 soil appears to !„■ a minor factor in influencing the size 

 of the seed and its oil content, [n fertilizer tests with 

 cotton, tic addition of a complete fertilizer to an unpro- 

 ductive soil gave larget seed and a considerably higher 

 percentage of oil. Application ofincreased quantities 

 of nitrogen did not affect the size of the seed but 

 lowered the percentage of oil. Increasing application 

 of phosphorus or potassium did not affeel eithei 



character. In pot-culture tests with soy beans, the 

 addition of phosphorus did not change the size of tic 

 seed, but increased t he oil content. 



The Dutch Colour Standard. 



In recent numbers of the Agricultural News- 

 (Vol. XIII, p. 407, Vol. XIV, pp. 3 and 35) reference 

 has been made to the Dutch Standard as a basis foi 

 fixing the rates of import duties on sugars entering 

 the Canadian market. It was explained in the last 

 of the references above-mentioned that the Dutch 

 Standard consists of a series of samples of cane sugar, 

 ranging from a very dark No. 7 to an almost white 

 product No. 25, which are prepared every year by two 

 firms in Holland and sent to the various merchants 

 and Customs depots. 



The colour standards as issued toward the end of 

 1914 were found to be darker than those formerly 

 used, the result of this being that certain sugars 

 which were formerly below No. 16 and are now above 

 it by the change of standard, are heavily penalized by 

 the increase of import duties in Canada. 



The Canadian customs tariff makes the distinction 

 in assessing duty on the No. 16 Dutch Standard, all raw- 

 sugars which are below being admitted with a duty 

 some 50 to 60 cents per cwt. less than those possessing 

 a colour corresponding to No. 16, or lighter than that. 

 In the absence of this information the West Indian 

 planters have continued to manufacture sugar up to the 

 standard of previous years, whereas adarker prod net won Id 

 have been required to meet the situation. Attention 

 having been called to the matter, an investigation was 

 made li\ the ( 'anadiati Minister ol 'Trade and Commerce 

 (Sir George Foster), with the result that official notifica- 

 tion has been made to the effect thai arrangements have 

 been made by which, for the present, West Indian Sugars 

 not over L 6 Duteh Standard will be entered into Canada 

 on the same basis as to Dutch Standard as prevailed in 

 1913. It should be mentioned that the Canada- West 

 India Maga sine was instrumental in giving promin 

 to this matter and advocating thai the West Indian 

 duties on sugar under the Canadian customs duties 

 should be assessed on an unaltered standard. 



