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THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



June 20, 1914. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



IMPERIAL DEVELOPMENT. 



The Imperial Edition (ilay 23) of the Finanr'ier 

 -win be found to contain a perfect symposium of 

 dnformation on the material resources of the Empire. The 

 edition, which runs into .sixty-four piges, profusely illus- 

 trated, presents an account of the political history, the 

 ^jhysical features and commercial achievements of the 

 ■various busy centres of population distributed through the 

 "Colonies and Dominions. The great British industries 

 of shipping and ship building, which have played such 

 a conspicuous part in the exploitation and consolidation of 

 the Empire find a place in the pages under review, whilst 

 consideration is given as well to mining, agriculture, 

 and various other fields for the investment of capital. It is 

 recorded that out of the total capital of £3,700,000,000 

 supplied by Great Britain up to the end of last year, nearly 

 jBI, 800,000,000 has been furnished to the Overseas 

 Possessions. 



A new feature of the Empire number is the section 

 devoted to a discussion of the opportunities in the Dominions 

 and Colonies for the rising generation in England. The 

 information in regard to these matters has been obtained 

 from authorities who are eminently fitted to give their views. 



Considerable space is devoted to an account of the 

 resources and opportunities of the West Indies, and an 

 account of the opening in this part of the world for British 

 capital and settlers is described by Mr. A. E. Aspinall, 

 Secretary of the West India Committee, in an interesting 

 interview with a representative of the Financier. 



RUBBER. 



A pamphlet on rubber and balata in British Guiana, 

 1914, prepared by the direction of the Governor of British 

 Guiana, states that the yield at Hills plantation (.\Fazaruni 

 River) was 1 Bb. 12 oz. of dry rubber per tree for nine months. 

 At Onderneeming (Essequibo) a yield at the rate of over 4 Bo. 

 per tree per annum has been obtained; whilst in the Xorth- 

 West District, 3 Do. per tree per annum is being maintained. 

 The above figures show that most .satisfactory yields of rubber 

 have been got, and the results compare favourably with the 

 best yields obtained in the East. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE PIG INDUSTRY. 



An instructive article contributed by the English 

 Agricultural Organization Society to the same Journal 

 outlines what might be done in English country districts 

 to make pig breeding, rearing and fattening more profit- 

 able than it is under present conditions. The aims of the 

 organization would be to place on the market an article 

 of the quality and in the form demanded by the consumer; 

 and to eliminate the unnecessary profit between the producer 

 and consumer with a view to obtaining a better price for 

 the former. The erection of bacon factories is advocated, 

 though in this connexion it is pointed out that a regular 

 weekly supply of pigs and thorough management together 

 with a large amount of capital and the existence of loyalty 

 amongst the members are essential. 



Through the organization society live pigs could be sold, 

 aod one of the greatest advantages whicli might be derived 

 from the former through the co-opeiation under consideration, 

 -would be the possibility of improving local breeds by pro- 

 viding for the use of members a number of well bred and 

 suitable boars. These animals would be sent out to members 

 in different parts of the district covered by the society and 

 would be available for the u,se of members at a nominal fee. 

 An essential feature of the system would be that the district 

 of each boar would be changed every year. 



The India RiMer World (June 1, 1914) describes a 

 somewhat ingenious wash bottle for use in laboratories. The 

 employment of this apparatus obviates the practice of placing 

 a tube in the mouth in order to operate the washbottle. The 

 apparatus calls for the use of a three-hole rubber stopper, 

 a slit rubber tube and a rubber valve, as well as a glass rod 

 and glass tubing. Simultaneous pressure of the valve and of 

 the finger on the relief tube creates a pressure within the 

 bottle which will cause the liquid to flow through the spout. 

 Whea the finger is removed from the relief tube the flow of 

 liquid is instantly shut off. 



Attention i.s drawn in the India Euhher World (June 

 1, 1914) to the forthcomeng International Rubber Congress 

 and Exhibition at Batavia, Java. The preliminary programme 

 of the Congress, which will be held during September 7 to 12 of 

 the present year, is a notable one. This programme, copies of 

 which may Ise obtained on application to Dr. A. A L. Rutgers, 

 second Secretary of the Congress Committee. Buitenzorg, 

 Java, contains a list of the papers and addresses that will be 

 read These include papers by Professor Went, Jlr. Henry C. 

 Pearson of New York, Professor Baur of Berlin University, 

 Dr. P. J. S. Crammer of Buitenzorg, and several of the 

 British Agricultural ofiicials from the Federated Malay States 

 and Ceylon. 



ONION TRADE. 



On March 2S, 60 crates of onions were shipped from 

 Antigua to Canada. These crates were examined by the 

 officials of the Antigua Onion Growers' Association. Thirty 

 were passed as being up to standard; the other 30 

 were not up to requirements and were not marked by the 

 Association. Account sales have since been received, and 

 the results show that the 30 crates certified by the Asso- 

 ciation were sold at SI 80 per crate, and the 30 uncer- 

 tified at $1 30 per crate; gross results, !554 and #45 

 respectively. The abpve shows the sound lines on which the 

 Association is working and that it deserves the support of ail 

 onion growers. (The Antigua Sun, May 9, 1914.) 



With further relation to the Antigua onion industry 

 it may be mentioned that the Superintendent of Agriculture 

 for the Leeward Islands has recently forwarded a copy 

 of the scheme which has been put forward as a basis for 

 extending the operation of the Growers' Association. 

 It is proposed that the onions will in the first place be 

 purchased at a flat rate of not less than Ic. per R. from 

 grovers spot cash. After deducting the expenses of grading, 

 sale and shipment and 3 per cent, commission for the 

 Association, the surplus proceeds of the season will be 

 distributed pro rata amongst the growers. 



