341 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



C)CTOBBR 2G, 1912. 



EDITORIAL NOTICES. 



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 CoDQmissioner, Imperial Department of Agriculture 

 H*rbados. 



All applications for Copies of the 'Agricultural 

 News' should be addressed to the Agents, and not to 

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 • 'o„ 37, Soho Square, W. A complete list of Agents 

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Ilgricultiinil fleiufj 



The Cotton Crop of Egypt for 1911-12. 



Diplomatic and Consular Reports, No. 4938^ 

 Annual Series, states that this was estimated at 

 7,2.30000 cantars (317,187 tons). The quality of the- 

 lint is rather poor and below the average, chiefly 

 because of large damage by the cotton worm in the 

 summer, a general deterioration of the seed used for 

 sowing, and, in Lower Egypt, to cool weather during 

 summer. 



The large crop in the United States has caused 

 prices to be a good deal lower than in 1910-11. 

 so that although the Egyptian cotton crop is estimated 

 at only 2.50,000 cantars (10,937 tons) less than the re- 

 cord crop of 1910-11, it represents an estimated 

 net value of only £E 29,000,000 as compared with 

 £E. 3(i,000,000 of the pre\ ious season. Another result 

 of low prices is that dealers in cotton nearly through- 

 out the world have replenished their stocks. 



Vol. XI. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26. 1912. No. 274. pjant Food in Sandstones. 



NOTES AND COMMENTS. 



Contents of Present Issue. 



lu this number the leading article treats of 

 Problems t>f Economic Importance Regarding Plant 

 TMseases, giving special attention to interesting sug- 

 grstions that have been made recently in connexion 

 vitli the subject. 



In view of the existence of the disease in the 

 AN'est Indies, particularly in certain islands, the article 

 r.a pellagra, on page 339, is of some interest. 



On page 840, an account is given of the lemon 

 itidustry of Italy, and this includes statistics concerning 

 leiiion and lemon products in Sicily, where the indus- 

 tries are carried on to their greatest extent. 



An article on page 341 gives information that has 

 been brought forward recently concerning plants either 

 giving what is called lulip wood, or being themselves 

 "•lined tulip trees, in the West Indies. 



An account of work contained in the Bulletin of 

 the Bureau of Aijrit-ultural Intelligence and of Plant 

 Diseases for June 1912, draws attention to the fact 

 that while un weathered mcks are as a rule not adapted 

 for supporting plant life, fragments of sandstones that 

 have been formed by the natural 'cementing' together 

 of pieces of the rock are so adapted because the 

 cementing material was originally a product of disin- 

 tegration and contains comparatively soluble plant 

 food. 



It appears that chalky sandstones with less cement- 

 ing matter were found to be more useful than those 

 in which the proportion of siliceous material was 

 greater, at any rate in the case of oats; with peas the 

 opposite results were obtained. 



The conclusions finally reached, as stated in the 

 account, are '(1) the value of the product resulting 

 from the weathering of rocks as nutritive medium for 

 jdant growth is confirmed; (2) among rocks, sandstones, 

 as being directly ntilizable form an exception.' 



The Insect Notes appear on page 34G. They 

 contain articles on a coco-nut pest in the Philippines, 

 oti the corn ear worm and on a sugar-cane pest that 

 has appeared in St. Croix. The second of these articles 

 is illustrated. 



Useful information regarding some well-known 

 edible beans appears on page 347. 



The Fungus Xntes of this issue, on page 350, 

 present information concerning a disease described as 

 a knot of citrus irees. This disease is not well known 

 iti the We.st Indies, evi'ept in Jamaica. 



Importation of Coco-nuts into Grenada. 



A Gazette of September 2,1912, states that, under 

 the authority of section 12 of the Plant Protection 

 Ordinance of Grenada, the .''ollowing regulations have 

 been made by the Governor in Council: '(1) Al! 

 coco-nuts in husk or growing plants of coco-nuts 

 imported into the Colony shall on arrival be forthwith 

 delivered to the .Superintendent of Agriculture for 

 treatment with etticient fungicides. (2) All such nuts 

 and plants shall be planted 'm nurseries apart from 

 growing coco-nuts in such places as may be approved by 

 the Superintendent of Agriculture. (3) All such 

 nurseries shall be visited from time to time by the 

 Superintendent of Agriculture ur any person deputed 



