September i, 1882.! THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



253 



It is said that during last season more than seven 

 billion feet of tinibei- were cut in Michigan, Wisconsin, 

 and Minnesota. The wliole quantity of pine timber 

 now standing in these three States, according to the 

 latest reports, is 81,500,000.000 feet. The supply at 

 the present rate of destruction will only last twelve 

 years. — Indian Agriculturist. 



Plantixg in- Burmah.— The cun-ent number of 

 the British Burmah Gnzette contains an interesting re- 

 port on the experimental cultivation of coffee, cocoa, 

 cardamoms, black pepper, vanilla, nutmegs and to- 

 bacco carried on in the Mergui District by Captain 

 Butler, the Deputy Commissioner With the excep- 

 tion of cocoa, there seems every prospect of the dif- 

 ferent plants succeeding.— il/arfras Mail. 



Economic Entomology.— The city of Paris has 

 granted to the Agiiculural and Entomological So- 

 ciety land to the extent of 4,000 metres, In Mout- 

 sourispark, on wliich it is intended to erect a school 

 of entomology. In this school will be carried on the 

 practical study of all kinds of useful insects, such as 

 silkworms, bees, &c. Researches \vill also be conducted 

 and experunents made, with a view to neutralizing 

 the effects of noxious insects. Courses of public lectures 

 will be given on all these subjects. Seeing how mucli 

 France gams from useful insects, and how greatly she 

 is suffering from such noxious species as the x>hylloxera, 

 this movement is muoli to be commended. — Australasian. 

 How TO Overcome the Pot.vto Disease.— By 

 J. L. Jensen. — The director of the department of 

 Agriculture at Copenhagen informs us that the average 

 disease everywhere depends on the rainfall during tlie 

 two weeks before, and the three or four weeks after, 

 the time of ripening of the winter wheat. The reason 

 is that the disease in the tubers is largely due to 

 the spores falling from the diseased foliage, which 

 are washed down by the rain to the tubers, on 

 whose surface they germinate. His experiments "con- 

 vincingly proved that perfect protective moulding (i. c, 

 covering with earth to a thickness of four inolies 

 above the upper surface of the uppermost tubers) can 

 not only check the disease, but, if prop- rly performed, 

 is capable of reducing it to a minimum." Mr. Jensen 

 also gives the results of his experiments as to the 

 liability to disease of the different soils, and lie sug- 

 gests an improved form of plough to carry out his 

 proposed method of cultivation. The pamphlet; is well 

 worthy the attention of practical agriculturists, and 

 they will be glad to learn that the autbor is still 

 engaged in further experiments. — Bookseller. 



DES'rRUCTioK OP Field Mice.— The attention of the 

 Revenue ond Agricultural Department has been at 

 tracted to the plan adopted by French Agriculturists 

 for the destruction of field mice, the damage done 

 by which has, in the Department of Aisne alone, cost 

 the tanners a loss of no less than 13 millions of 

 franca. The measure hit upon is to construct heaps 

 or small stacks of straw, to which the mice resort 

 in myriads. These heaps are placed partly below the 

 level of the ground and ate securely packed and 

 covered in, being first stored with poismed beet-root, 

 turnips and carrots. Much damage is occasionally 

 done to crops in certain parts of the North Western 

 Provinces and Assam which are infested by these 

 plagues, and we understand that the Local Uovern- 

 ment and the Chief Commissioner have been requested 

 to allow their Agricultural Departments to ascertain 

 the result of similar measures in the tracts so affected. 

 The circumstance that a sum of R.50,000 was recently 

 granted by the Government of India for distribution 

 in villages on the frontier of the Hill tracts of Chitta- 

 gong, of which the crops had been destroyed by 

 field rats proves the importance of ascertaining the 

 best remedy which can be applied in such cases.— 

 Calcutta Englishman. 



CiNCH0>'A. — A very important discovery has lately 

 been made in England which is likely entirely to revolu- 

 tionize the cinchona industry in this country. Amongst 

 the cinchona barks imported into Europe, one of an 

 inferior quality, which only yields 2 per cent, of tbe 

 alkaloid, instead of some 10 per cent, yielded by the 

 higher quality of bark, has for some time been coming 

 in increasing quantities from America. Attention was 

 thus drawn to this particular bark, and, on investig- 

 ation, it was found not to be cinchona at all, but an 

 allied plant of the order of the Rubiaceu;. It used to 

 be supposed that cinchona alone, the cultivation of 

 which is difficult and expensive, was capable of yield- 

 ing quinine, and therefore this discovery is one likely 

 to have important results. Quinine may now be looked 

 for among the members of the Bubiacece, and it is 

 quite possible that some indigenous wild plant may be 

 found in this country from which quinine may be 

 extracted. Whether this be so or not, the American 

 plant which has now been ascertained to yield it, might 

 be easily enough cultivated over large areas in Bengal 

 — in Tirhoot, for example, and in other parts where 

 land and labour are incomparably cheaper than at our 

 hill stations. Under these circumstances a yield of 2 

 per cent, would be more profitable than a yield of 10 or 

 12 per cent, from cinchona ; and we may reasonably ex- 

 pect to be able soon to purchase quinine at half its 

 present price. ibis will be an incalculable boon to 

 the fever-smitten populations of parts of India ; but 

 the prospect is not so cheering to those who have 

 invested their capital in cinchona cultivation. — Friend 

 of India. [We doubt very much the possibility of the 

 profitable cultivation of the trees which produce cuprea 

 bark in the climate of Tirhoot. — Ed.] 



Strawberries in the Nilgirls. — The present str.aw 

 berry crop of France is reported to be the best for 

 many years. Forty tons of fruit were a few weeks 

 ago shipped in a single vessel for Southampton, and 

 other shipments to Kngland were made during the 

 same month. This popular fruit grows well on the 

 Nilgiris, and yet very indifferent attention is paid to 

 its culture. A few years ago, strawberries were always 

 to be had at Mr. Misquith's fruit-stall, but now we 

 seldom if ever find a few dishes offered. During the 

 warmer months, the fruit in Ootacamund attains a 

 good size, and is of fine flavor. We have seen straw- 

 berries grown here from Australian varieties very large 

 indeed, and, although these large kinds are invariably 

 insipid, still with a little attention to the composition 

 of the Boil, this defect can be remedied. At Coonoor 

 and Kotagherry, the climate is simply perfection for 

 strawberries, but scarcely any attention is paid to the 

 cultivation. Regular sale at remunerative prices can 

 always be secured for strawberries. The method of 

 cultivation is simple. They are grown in lines three 

 feet from each other and haiif that distance from 

 plant to plant. The best soil is of'a light, rich, loamy 

 character, which should be well trenched, deeply dug, 

 and freely minured to sustain the plants for at least 

 two years, atler which they' should be lifted and 

 divided, or the fruit is likely to deteriorate. It usu- 

 ally happens that the fruit the second year is more 

 abund mt than in the first, though it is not so well 

 flavored. When the blossom sets, it is sometimes 

 necessary to thin out, in which case the crop, though 

 not aliundant, is well formed and luscious. At the 

 time of ripening the fruit should be protected from 

 birds with wire netting, and from insects that come 

 out of the soil by freely watering the same with a 

 weak solution of salt and water. If in addition to 

 this a little fresh straw is placed under the trusses 

 of fruit, it will keep them free from mud and grit, 

 which is washed on to the fruit by rain or ih« watering 

 of the plants. — Sotilh o/ India 0/iserver. 



