Vol. XV. No. 365. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



139 



Experiments should be carried our in the use of poison 

 baits of various sorts. 



If these slugs can develop to a piiint when they occur at 

 the rate of more than 3-5,000 per acre, they may easily 

 become very seriously destructive, and it is worth while for 

 everyone concerned to acquire as nuich knowledge of the 

 pest and its habits as possible. 



H.AB. 



COMPOSITION OF DOMINICA MILK. 



The following report by Mr. U. A. Jone.s, Assistant 

 Curator and Chemist, Dominica, on the coiriposition of 

 the milk sold in the principal town, Roseau is of 

 interest. 



During the week ending March -1, twelve samples of milk 

 were analysed in the local laboratory; the samples were 

 obtained under the direction of the Chairman of the Roseau 

 Town Board, and represented a portion of the milk sold by 

 twelve different licensed milk sellers in the town 



The results of the analysis are given in the table which 

 follows: — 



The legal standard for milk in 



1. The United Kingdom is 3 per cent, fat, 8-5 per cent, 

 .solids not fat. 



2. The United States of America is 3-25 per cent, fat, 

 8-5 per cent, solids not fat. 



3. .Jamaica is 3-5 per cent, fat, 8-25 per cent, solids 

 not fat. 



A comparison of the results of the analysis of the Roseau 

 milk supply as represented by these samples with the above 

 legal standards shows that a very good quality of milk is 

 offered for sale. (Jne sample only (Xo. 1) shows a de- 

 ficiency in fat, even when compared with the high legal 

 standard of Jamaica. By the same standard two samples 

 (Nos. 3 and 12) show a deficiency in .solids other than 

 fat, and in the case of No 12, water has been added to 

 the extent of 3 per cent. 



The mean results of the analysis of the twelve samples 

 are well above the legal standards of the different countries 

 enumerated above. 



The foregoing was publishc-il in the ])oininica 

 O^cial Gazette for March 1?., I!)l(!. It bears out similar 



observations made in other West Indian colonies.namely, 

 that the milk in these islands contains a high percen- 

 tage of fat. In considering, however, the individual 

 fat determin.itions in the above table, it must be 

 remembered that the extreme results are probably due 

 to imperfect sampling For the detection of water 

 adulteration, the solids not fat is the essential 

 (determination. 



A COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE OF 

 SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



A valuable report of a committee appointed in pursuance 

 of a motion passed at a Conference convened by the Prime 

 Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia, is published in 

 Nature for March 9, 1916. The Committee included 

 representatives of commerce and manufacture as well as of 

 science and the Departments of State. The proposals of the 

 Committee, which are given briefiy below, have, it is 

 understood, the approval of the Federal Covtrnment. and it 

 is probable that a Bill will be laid before the Federal Parliament 

 to give effect to these recommendations. The proposals are 

 on lines somewhat similar to those of the British Government 

 scheme for the organization and development of scientific and 

 industrial research. It may be mentioned that agriculture 

 was strongly represented on the Committee, three of the 

 four ministers present being State ministers of agriculture. 



The principal reconimendaiions are as follows. It is 

 recommended that there should be established under Act of 

 Parliament a Commonwealtji Institute of Science and 

 Industry (including agriculture). The principal functions of 

 the Institute should be : to initiate scientific researches ; to 

 collect industrial scientific information ; to establish national 

 laboratories ; to establish industrial research fellowships ; to 

 direct attectiou to po.ssible new industries ; to keep in close 

 touch with Government departments, professional societies 

 and private enterprises concerned with scienlific industrial 

 research, in order to prevent undesirable overlapping of effort. 

 The Committee emphasize strongly the undesirability of 

 combining scientific research and the hiboratory work of the 

 testing departments. Any attempt to combine rese-irch and 

 routine of this nature would tend to weaken both branches of 

 activity. It is recommended that the Institute should be 

 controlled by three salaried Directors appointed by the 

 GJovernor-General in Council, and one should be an expert 

 business and financial man, and two should be chosen 

 mainly on account of scientific attainments and wide 

 experience. It vpas further resolved by the Committee 

 that all discoveries, inventions, improvements and processes 

 should be vested in trustees as its sole pr.)i)erty, and should 

 be made available, under proper conditions, and on pay- 

 ment of gratuities or otherwise for public advantage. 

 The payment of bonuses to successful discoverers or inventors 

 is recommended. The work of the Institute should include 

 the co-ordination of work in technical and agricultural 

 colleges in Australia. 



The Committee suggests for the consideration of the 

 Advisory Council, a certain set of problems which, among 

 others, are pressing: for example, the sheep fly pest; improved 

 methods of extracting zinc from Australian ores; the 

 introduction of a inechanic.il cotton picker; the eradication 

 of the prickly pear; the recovery of potash, manufacture of 

 alkaloid, and condensation 'A sulphuric acid gas at present 

 being wasted; the cultivation of useful indigenous grasses 

 and salt bushes; the manufacture of chemicals, drugs and 

 explosives. 



