236 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



July 23, 1910. 



GLEANINGS. 



A leaflet issued by the Department of Agriculture of 

 Eastern Bengal and Assam, dated May 12, 1910, shows that 

 the average wholesale price of rice in that part of India has 

 fallen by about 19 and 29 per cent., as compared with the 

 prices prevailing at the end of April, in 1909 and 1908, 

 respectively. 



Ordinance No. 1 of 1910, Dominica, ha.s been published 

 recently. This is known as the Dominica Forests Limited 

 Acquisition of Lands Ordinance, 1910, and its object is to 

 empower the Limited Liability Company called 'Dominica 

 Forests Limited' to acquire land for the purposes of its under- 

 taking. 



A report by the Acting Registrar of Imports and Exports 

 at Singapore shows that the exports of Para rubber from the 

 Straits Settlements in 1909, amounted to 4,504,4.3.S lb. as 

 against 3,659,906 fl)., in 1908. By far the greatest propor- 

 tion of this rubber went to the United Kingdom, the amounts 

 being 3,860,459 Bo. and 3,004,883 B). 



The quantity of linters produced in the United States 

 from re-ginning cotton seed of the crop of 1909 amounted to 

 313,478 bales, as compared with 114,544 bales from that of 

 1899. Much of this fibre was disposed of at less than Ic. 

 per lb. during 1907-8, but it has been in greater demand this 

 season, the average price returned for it being 3'2c. per B). 

 {Sugar Planters' Journal, .June 18, 1910.) 



In the Botanical Magazine for .June, one of the plants. 

 Agave Franxosini, which has been introduced into some of 

 the West Indian Botanic Stations during recent years, is 

 described. From the information given, it appears that this 

 plant, which is a native of Mexico or Central America, when 

 it reaches the flowering stage, produces an inflorescence which 

 grows to nearly 40 feet, and is in the form of a panicle, having 

 a diameter of about 10 feet. 



According to the Diplomatic and Consular Reports, 

 No. 4,450, Annual Series, the quantity of vanilla produced in 

 Reunion for the four years 190G-7 to 1909-10 was 35,588, 

 48,865, 70,000, and 39,500 kilos. The recent over-produc- 

 tion of vanilla has reduced the amount growing in that 

 island by about one-half. The prices of vanilla rose very con- 

 .siderably, the best quality being sold at an average rate of 

 £1 9s. 6(/., during last year, as against an average of 18.?., 

 the year before. The price of the inferior iiualities also 

 increased in proportion, so that it would seem that, not only 

 in Reunion, but in other vanilla growing countries, the pro- 

 duction has been limited purposely during 1909. 



An Ordinance to provide against the spreading of ankylos- 

 tomiasis has been passed recently in Tlrenada (No. 5, of 1910). 

 By this, provision is made for the compulsory treatment and 

 detention of persons infected with the disease: for the giving of 

 the accommodation necessary in connexion with preventing 

 its spread; and for the framing, altering and revoking of 

 regulations against the disease, by the General l^oard of 

 Health. 



A Committee has been appointed by the President of 

 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for the purpo.se of 

 advising it on all scientific questions which bear directly on 

 the imjjrovement of .igriculture, and especially as to the 

 methods to be adopted (a) for promoting agricultural research 

 in Universities and other scientific schools; (b) for aiding 

 scientific workers engaged in the study of agricultural pro- 

 blems; and (c) for ensuring that new .scientific discoveries are 

 utilized for the benefit of agriculturists. 



A new process for the purpose of coagulating rubber 

 latex has been devised by the Elias Pure Rubber Process, Ltd., 

 of 7 to 10, St. Mary-at-Hill, London, E.C. In this, a preserv- 

 ative paste is dissolved in warm water, and added to the latex 

 as it collects in the cups. The effect is to keep the latex in 

 a liquid and unchanged condition, until the succes.sive collec- 

 tions can be bulked and coagulated all together. The 

 coagulation is brought aboat by means of another reagent, 

 which, being in a solid form, can be easily sent out to rubber- 

 growing districts. 



The Jfo7ithli/ Consular and Trade Reports, for April 

 1910, gives a .statistical review of the world's sugar crop 

 which shows, in the result, that the production of beet sugar 

 has steadily grown less during recent years, while that of 

 cane sugar has increased to such an extent as not only to 

 cover the shortage in beet sugar, but also to add to the 

 market a sufficient quantity to supply the world's demand for 

 sugar, with a limited surplus, at the end of the season, which 

 is scarcely sufficient to keep the world supplied for six 

 weeks. 



The (Juiniaine Coloniale (Paris) for May 25, 1910, 

 states that there is likely to be considerable development in 

 the rubber industry in Cochin-China. Attempts were made 

 to cultivate rubber there as far back as 1897 and 1898, but 

 the matter has only been taken up in real earnest in recent 

 years. At present, there are about fifteen plantation^ contain 

 ing 650,000 Hevea plants, and though the industry is in its 

 infancy, it is estimated that, by the end of this year, this 

 number of plants will be extended to about 1,000,000. 

 (The Board of Trade Journal, June 9, 1910.) 



A report by H. M. Acting Consul-General at liio de 

 Janeiro states that the Government of the State of Para is 

 endeavouring to cause means to be taken in order that rubber 

 planters should start cultivation in regions that are more 

 easily reached from the coast. This (xoverninent also desires 

 to bring about the existence of regulations which .shall fix the 

 age at which the first tapping shall take place, and the height 

 that the trees must have reached before they are made to yield 

 latex. Proposals are also being made for the exploitation of 

 rubber with Government aid. 



