Vol. X. No. 233. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



105 



coffee is being gradually extended, and ihesame is true 

 to some degree of bananas, 22o,551 tb. of which was 

 sent to France, as compared with 128,880 Iti. in 1908. 

 The increase took place inconsequence of the abate- 

 ment of the yellow fever epidemic of 1907-8, which had 

 interfered with the export facilities. There is still, 

 however, a surplus production, and as the opportunities 

 for sending the fruit to France are limited, it is sug- 

 gested that British shipowners shmild interest them- 

 selves in the trade, particularly as the excess output is 

 likely, sooner or later, to find its way into the United 

 States. 



The trade of Martinique with the neighbouring 

 British colonies is insignificant; this is indicated b}- the 

 fact that the value of the imports from all British 

 colonies was only £1,83.5. 



Mosquito Larvae in Drinking Water. 



An article in the Avnals of Tropical Medicine 

 and Parasitohigi/ for 1910, page -^Ol, describes experi- 

 ments which were conducted for the purpose of deter- 

 mining the effect of the introduciion of mosquito lar- 

 vae, or wrigglers, into water, particularly in regard to 

 the number of bacteria contaiued therein. The larvae 

 employed were those «( several species of Culex, and of 

 Theohcddia annidata. These were placed in drink- 

 ing water which had not been sterilized in any way, 

 and the number of bacteria in the water was deter- 

 mined from day to day: while the same determination 

 which was made for similar drinking water, without 

 larvae, was used as a control. 



The result of the investigation was to show that 

 the effect of larvae in water is to increase the number 

 of bacteria present, to a very considerable extent. 



Schools Show in Tobago. 



A successful schools show was held in Tobago on 

 February 16, an account of which was given in the 

 Trinidad Mirror for February 21, 1911. 



A matter of some general interest in connexion 

 with the show is that specimens of vegetables preserved 

 in alcohol, and showing plant diseases, were exhibited 

 tor the purpose of adding to the practical kmiwledge of 

 teachers, and to stimulate interest in nature study. 

 Another matter for remark is that natural history 

 specimens were exhibited by several schools, and 

 although the attempt to make good collections was 

 creditable, there appeared tn be rooui for improvement. 

 The display of flowering plants wa.s not very satisfac- 

 tory, while the exhibits of bananas were good, except fi)r 

 the fact that more care was required in packing and 

 transportation. Most of the food plants appeared to have 

 been of fair quality, and some were good, although the 

 exhibition of corn was poor. 



In regard to cotton, an exhibit of some interest 

 was made by Mr. Thomas Thornton (late Travel- 

 ling Inspector for this Department, in connexion with 

 cotton investigations), who showed two full-sized plants 

 of a hybrid that has been raised by him, in full bearing. 



A Machine for Felling Trees. 



A means for felling trees, which has been put to 

 a certain amount of use, was described in the Agricul- 

 twral News, Vol. IX, p. 297. A method that is of more 

 general apjilication is described in the Supplement to 

 The Field for February 11, 1911. This was invented 

 by Mr. A. Ransome some years ago, and consists ot 

 a cross-cut saw worked by steam from a cylinder with 

 a long stroke, which is mounted, and arranged to turn 

 on its centre in the direction required, by means of 

 a hand wheel. GreOrt simplification of the apparatus 

 arises from the fact that the saw is fixed to the end of 

 the piston rod, so that there is no need for a crank 

 shaft, connecting rod, or fly wheel. The steam reaches 

 the cylinder through a flexible hose, which is sufiiciently 

 long to allow the machine to be worked over an area of 

 an acre without moving the boiler, although the last 

 matter is comparatively simple, as the boiler itself is 

 mounted on broad wheels, for ease in transit. The 

 machine is also easily moved fmm place to place, 

 four men only being required for the purpose; while 

 the saw with which it is fitted can fell trees up to 

 7 feet in diameter. 



For the purpose of working, the whole apparatus 

 requires three men only — to attend to the boiler, the; 

 cylinder and the saw, respectively. Lastly, the working 

 parts of the machine can be fitted into a special frame, 

 by which it is enabled to be employed for making 

 vertical cuts, or for cross-cutting trees after they have 

 been felled. j 



The Broom Com Industry in the United States 



The Board of Trade Journal for January 5, 1911, 

 reproduces a report by H. M. (Jonsul General at 

 Chicago, which gives particulars concerning the broom 

 corn industry ot the United States. According to the 

 report, broom corn is chiefly grown in Illinois, Kansas, 

 ( )klahoma, and Tennessee, the best corn being con- 

 sidered to come from the first-mentioned State. In 

 regard to the production of broom corn in the United 

 States during 1910, it is calculated that enough of the 

 material was made for the manufacture of forty-two 

 million brooms, having a value of about three million 

 pounds sterling. 



Broom corn growing in the Ignited States is said 

 to be very remunerative, although the work on the 

 farms is very hard. The restriction of the growing of 

 the plant to a comparatively small area causes the 

 prices of broom corn to be generally high; they amount 

 to about £21 to £73 per ton. 



An idea is prevalent that broom corn only grows 

 well on certain soils, and that it does not usually flour- 

 ish where Indian corn is raised. For the production of 

 the best kinds, it is necessary to construct sheds for the 

 seasoning and storage of the crop. It leaves the farm 

 in bales having a weight of about 300 lb. As broom- 

 making is a simple process, and few tools are required 

 for the purpose, it has been largely in the hands of 

 small manufacturers. The brooms are now, however, 

 being made in large factories to a continually increasing 

 extent, and machines are in use which are capable of 

 turning out hundreds of brooms per day, 



