194 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



June 2G, 1909. 



probably be visiting Ottawa during the summer, would 

 appear to render the adoption of this suggestion particu- 

 larly desirable this year, and there is little doubt that 

 the additional funds required to carry it into effect will 

 be forthcoming. But, as already stated, it will entirely 

 depend on whether Messrs. Pickford & Black can make 

 the necessary arrangements. The appointment of the 

 Commission is evidence of the interest taken by Great 

 Britain in the welfare of her West Indian colonies, and 

 should stimulate these colonies to join in collecting 

 and forwarding as attractive and interesting a set of 

 exhibits as they possibly can, with the object of 

 showing that they are endeavouring to do their share 

 in extending: trade relations with Canada. 



The Permanent Exhibition Committees having 

 now had considerable experience in getting together 

 exhibits, it is unnecessary to. repeat the advice which 

 has been given in previous years in regard to the nature 

 of the specimens to be obtained, and the manner in 

 which they should be packed and forwarded. Those 

 who may wish to refresh their memories on this point 

 might refer to the suggestions contained in an article 

 published in the Agricultural JVcirs last year (Vol. VII, 

 pp. 129-30). 



The following are appi'oxim.itely the dates on 

 which the exhibits should be ready for shipment from 

 the several colonies : Barbados, August 3 ; St. Vincent, 

 August 4 : St. Lucia, August 4; Dominica, August 5 ; 

 Montserrat, August (3 : Antigua, August 7 : St. Kitt's, 

 August S. As the Canadian Line steamers do not call 

 at Grenada, exhibits from that island should be sent 

 to Barbados in time for shipment on August 3, or to 

 Trinidad on July 31, as may be most convenient. 

 Exhibits from the Virgin Islands should be sent to 

 St. Kitt's some time before August 8. The usual 

 supply of decorative material such as bamboo stems, 

 •(iried leaves of the cocoa-nut palm, bunches of cocoa- 

 nuts (strongly wired together), fresh sugar-canes, etc. 

 should bo shipped at the same time as the exhibits, 

 and would arrive at St. John's or Halifax on August 

 15. 



Fresh fruit and other perishable commodities 

 might be forwarded by the following steamer, which 

 would arrive at St. John's or Ilalifiix about Augr.st 27, 

 three days before the opening of the Toronto Exhibi- 

 tion. A second shipment of fresh fruit, etc. might be 

 made by the steamer due at Halifax on September 7. 

 This would be available for use at the Ottawa Exhibi- 

 tion opening on September, 10, in the event of its 

 being found possible to transfer the exhibits to Ottawa 

 in time. 



Glass jars and bottles should be carefully inspect- 

 ed after being filled, to detect any leakage beiure 

 shipmenc. Owing, to the amount of knocking about 

 which they are likely to receive in transit, great care 

 should be taken to pack each bottle separately in straw, 

 shavings, or sawdust. 



Attention is also drawn to the desirability of 

 placing fresh fruit, etc., to be displayed in glass bottles, 

 in a 4-per cent, solution of formaldehyde. 



In 1907 a small illustrated Handbook entitled 

 ' The West Indies in Canada ' was issued by the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture, and copies of ib 

 were distributed at the Exhibitions. As this Handbook 

 contained a considerable amount of interestinsr and 

 usefid infiu-mation in regard to the West Indies, it is 

 proposed to revise and amplify it, and to distribute 

 copies at tiie forthcoming Exhibitions. In order to 

 make it more attractive, a set of illustrations will again 

 be inserted, which will, it is hoped, enable people in 

 Canada to form a clearer idea of the conditions and 

 circumstances that exist in the West Indies. 



Such a Handbook will, it is thought, be more likely 

 to be retained by persons visiting the Exhibitions than 

 the detached leaflets which are usually issued by each 

 colony : but in the event of its being considered desir- 

 able, leaflets might also be printed by individual colo- 

 nies for distribution. 



A collection of photographs from each colony 

 would be likely to provi' an interesting addition to 

 the exhibits. 



All correspondence in connexion with these 

 Exhibitions should be addressed to Jlessrs. Pickford 

 & Black, Halifax, Nova Scotia. 



Protection of Seed Corn. Thu Kan-sas State 



Experiment Station in a recent circular have discu.ssed the 

 treatment of .seed corn to protect it from burrowing animals. 

 Mice are the pe.sts mcst concerned and several treatments 

 have been found useful. The use of poi.soned baits three or 

 four (;la3's before jilanting, the use of |ioisoned .seed, and coat- 

 ing the .seed with oticnsive smelling substances have all been 

 tried with success. 



The loss of seed from mice in the ticld in the W'csi, 

 Indie.s would seem to be small, but the loss due to black 

 birds is often considerable. It would not be a wise practice 

 to poison the blackbirds because they are very useful insect 

 eaters, but the use of coal tar, as suggested, would be likely to 

 l)rove of value. For each jieck (one-fourth bushel) of corn 

 use a teaspoonful of tar. The corn shoidd be slightly wet 

 with warm water before stirring in the tar. Stir thnioughly 

 till each grain of corn is covered witli tar, and dry before, 

 planting. This might be tried in the West Indies for Gtunea 

 corn and iniiiliee. 



