THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



317 



STUDENTS' CORNER. 



OCTOBER. 

 First Period. 



Seasonal Notes. 



It is well known that, in the case of two .solutions of 

 different strength.?, separated by a .suitable membrane, the 

 pressure on one side of the membrane is greater than that on 

 the other, the greater pressure being toward the stronger 

 solution; the difference between the pressures is called the 

 Osmotic Pressure. Its existence is often demonstrated by 

 tying a membrane over the mouth of a small glass funnel, 

 putting salt water into the vessel thus formed, and inverting 

 the funnel with its mouth below the surface of a quantity of 

 tap water; the greater pressure is exerted toward the salt 

 water, .so that water passes through the membrane into the 

 salt water which consequently rises in the tube of the funnel. 

 In another way, pieces of yam or potato, put into salt water, 

 lose their stiffness, because water passes out of their cells; 

 while on the other hand, if pieces of these plants (or similar 

 material from other plants) are placed in water, they swell 

 and become stiff, because the water has passed into the 

 stronger -solution in their cells and increased the internal 

 pressure on the walls of these. 



It must be remembered that, at the same time, sub- 

 stances in the stronger solution pass into the weaker. Apply 

 these matters to living plants and state why the strength of 

 the solutions in the cells of the roots of such plants does not 

 become gradually so weak that it is no stronger than the 

 soil solution in contact with them. 



are complex: the position is summed up shortly in a text- 

 book* issued in recent years: 'It [agriculture] involves 

 more problems than any other occupation — unless it be 

 housekeeping.' 



Questions for Candidates. 



Preliminary Questions. 



(1) Why is the soil round a tree, under ordinary 

 conditions, higher than the surrounding soil? 



(2) Why does recently germinated corn possess 

 a sweet taste? 



(3) How do pod-bearing plants help to enrich the soil 

 in nitrogen? 



Intermediate Questions. 



(1) Describe the structure of any root that you have 

 e.xamined. 



(2) Give an account of the exports of the colony in 

 which you live. 



(3) State how you employ published agricultural 

 matter in connexion with your work. 



Final Questions. 



(1) Give your experience of the employment of 

 a nursery on an estate. 



(2) From a consideration of the imports of the colony 

 in which you live, show how the conditions may be improved 

 by a greater local production of useful food-stuffs. 



(3) Discuss the usefulness of agricultural literature to 

 the planter. 



In considering the value of agriculture to mankind, it 

 must be remembered that, while mining, manufacture and 

 trade are necessary for the development of a country, the 

 foundation of these is agriculture: without the production of 

 crops and stock, civilization is at present impossible. The 

 importance of agriculture to a growing country in which 

 there is still much room for development is illustrated by 

 reference to statistics concerning the United States of 

 America. These show that, in the year 1899, the 

 total capital invested in manufactures in that country was 

 about ten billion dollars, while the total value of all farm 

 property in that year was more than twice as much. The 

 matter is further illustrated by the consideration that the 

 total horsepower employed at the same period in factories 

 is stated to be more than eleven million, while the total 

 number of horses and muks on farms was over 18 million; 

 this is of course only a rough manner of comparison. These 

 figures help to demonstrate the i)reponderating share of 

 agriculture under conditions of growth and progress. 



The complexity of the matters that pertain to agri- 

 culture is indicated by the fact that chemistry, physics 

 botany, geology, zoology, entomology (which may be con- 

 sidered as a branch of zoology), mycology (or the study of 

 the fungi producing plant diseases), bacteriology and meteor- 

 ology are all required in its study and practice. Again, the 

 agriculturist, whether he is attending to the raising of crops 

 or stock for commercial purposes, or making investigations 

 and giving advice, has to pay attention, not only to the 

 sciences that are the handmaidens of agriculture, but must 

 possess knowledge of the subject as an art, and the ability 

 to deal with it as a business. The interests of agriculture 



A Trial of Apterite.— At the request of the pro- 

 prietors, some tests have been made at the Hawkesbury 

 Agricultural College to ascertain the effect of this preparation 

 upon eel worms in the soil. A piece of light sandy soil was 

 selected for the trial. The rubbish and weeds were either 

 burned or carted away, and the ground ploughed on Octoberj(5, 

 1911, and harrowed on the following day. It was then culti- 

 vated once a fortnight until December 18, when Apterite 

 was sown by hand, and the ground ploughed 4 or 5 inches 

 deep. The area had been divided into nine plots and appli- 

 cations were made at varying strengths, from 103 to 656 lb. 

 per acre. Untreated strips were left between the plots for 

 observation purposes. 



The ground was then harrowed and rolled, and on 

 December 21 sown with Poona cowpeas. A few patches of 

 green summer grass which were on the ground at ploughing 

 time were harrowed out before sowing. 



Half of the area was uniformly affected by eel worm to 

 such an extent that very little seed was formed, and all the 

 jjlants died before full maturity. The other half, with the 

 exception of a small strip adjoining the damaged section, was 

 only slightly affected. The only conclusion that can be drawn 

 is that the application of 'Apterite' made no difference in the 

 severity of the affection, and did not prevent the eel worms 

 from attacking the plants (The Agricultural Gazette of 

 New SoiUh Wales, July 1912.) 



* Elements of Agrwdtiire, by G. T. Warren; Messrs. 

 Macmillan it Co., Ltd. 



