Vol. XVI. No. 404. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS, 



325 



Although the young canes have improved somewhat, 

 the crop, on the whole, ia unsatisfactory; the ratoons especially 

 are very poor. Tlie hurricaae of September 21 did no very 

 serious damage to the cotton crop. Cotton stainers are 

 observed in a few fields. Cotton picking has begun in 

 several fields, and good yields are being obtained. 



Provision crops are in a satisfactory condition. Some 

 new fields of sweet potatoes have been planted. The rain- 

 fall for the month has been 8 18 inches, making ct. total for 

 the year of 34 90 inches. 



ALCOHOL AS A SUBSTITQTE FOR 

 PETROL. 



In April last the Commonwealth Advisory Council of 

 Science and Industry appointed a special committee of experts 

 to inquire into the production of industrial alcohol in 

 Australia, and the design and manufacture in this country 

 of engines suitable for using alcohol in place of petrol. This 

 committee has now issued its first progress report. The 

 committee draws attention to the fact that alcohol possesses 

 various advantages over petrol as a fuel. In the first place 

 the products of combustion in an alcohol engine are 

 practically odourless and free from smoke. Secondly, the 

 risk from fire in storing and handling alcohol is much less 

 than in the case of petrol. Thirdly, there are many 

 theoretical, chemical, and physical reasons why alcohol should 

 yield superior results. It can be usblI without danger of 

 pre ignition under high compression, and it can yield a much 

 higher percentage of its available heat content in the form 

 of work. Lastly, alcohol is produced in Australia, and, if 

 necessary, can be manufactured here in largely increased 

 quantities. 



The main aspects of the problem that have to be sol- 

 ved are — (a) the design and manufacture of the engine; 

 (b) the supply of alcohol and it.s distribution; and (c) the 

 denaturation of the alcohol, so as to render it impotable. 



The engine (jroblem does not present any serious 

 difficulties, as alcohol has been used for a number of years 

 with success in other countries, notably Germany. The 

 main difficulty is that alcohol engines cannot be .started 

 cold, and some special device for pre-heating is necessary. 

 The committee is taking steps either to purchase or have 

 constructed an engine or engines, and to use them for 

 demonstration purposes. 



The supply of alcohol is a much more difficult problem 

 than its utilization. At present the cheapest source for the 

 production of alcohol in Australia is s-ugar moIasseSj but even 

 if the whole supply of molasses were used, it would be 

 sufficient to produce only about 4{ million gallons of alcohol, 

 whereas the annual importations of mineral oils aie about 

 17 million gallons. If petrol is to be replaced by alcohol, 

 it will, therefore, be necessary to use some source in addition 

 td, or in place of, molasses. If alcohol cannot be profitably 

 made from waste or raw materials not at present used, such 

 as prickly pear, sawdust and waste timber, grass trees, waste 

 fruit and vegetable refuse, it will be necessary to grow 

 special materials for the purpose. The most likely of these 

 are maize, potatoes, wheat, barley and beet. The committee 

 is investigating the cost of production, on a commercial scale, 

 of alcohol from various sources. 



The denaturation problem also presents considerable 

 difficulties. Under the present excise regulation alcohol has 

 to be mi.xed with other ingredients to render it impotabh 

 before it can be sold as ineihylated spirits. If alcohol is to 

 come into general use as a fuel, it will be n3ce3sary to (ind 



some cheaper denaturants than those now used, otherwise the 

 excise regulations will make the price of fuel too high 

 If these difficulties are met in a liberal and progressive spirit 

 there is no doubt that they can be overcome. When this is 

 achieved, not only will Australia cease to be dependent on 

 other countries for a fuel which is essential, but many new 

 industries will open out, both directly and indirectly, as 

 a result of the change. From the Imperial point of view 

 it is important to secure uniformity in regard to denatura- 

 tion, so that industrial alcohol distilled in one part of the 

 Empire may be exported for use in other parts. With this 

 object in view the committee is cooperating with the 

 Imperial Motor Transport Council, London. (The Australian. 

 Su(/ar Journal, August 9, 1917.) 



AGRICULTURAL RETURNS FOR 



ENGLAND AND WALES, 



1917. 



The following memorandum was issued by the 

 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries on August 2.5, 

 1917. It is of interest at the present time to the whole 

 Empire: — 



The Preliminary Statement of the Agricultural Returns 

 for England and Wales, collected in June last, shows that 

 about 190,000 acres of permanent grass have been brought 

 under the plough since .lune 1916, the arable area being 

 195,000 acres more than a year ago. 



The acreage under wheat is slightly greater than a year 

 ago, a decrease of 53,000 acres in the autumn being rather 

 more than counterbalanced by increased spring sowings. 

 Barley and oats are being grown more extensively than lasti 

 year, the former showing an increase of 128,500 acres, and 

 the latter, one of 173,000 acres; the area under oats is thet 

 largest recorded since 1904. Of the pulse crops, beans 

 have been reduced by 25,000 acres, and peas increa.sed by 

 18,000 acres, as compared with last year. The acreage under 

 potatoes has been increased by 80,000 acres, or nearly 

 one-fifth, and is about 10 per cent, greater than the highest 

 previously recorded. The area under roots has also been 

 e.Ktended, turnips and swedes b)- 34,000 acres, and mangolds 

 by nearly 11,000 acres. Green fodder crops have been 

 grown on reduced areas. Mustard has lost the large increase 

 recorded last year, and the area is now below that of 1915. 

 Bare fallow was reduced by 66,500 acres. The area of 

 clover and rotation grasses is 90,000 acres less than last year, 

 nearly all the reduction being in that reserved for hay. The 

 area from which meadow hay was taken also shows a reduc- 

 tion, and altogether the hay area is down by nearly 108,000 

 acres. 



The number of horses on farms increased by 13,000, 

 those used lor aaricultural purposes showing an increase of 

 23,000. There are, however, 5,000 less foals than in 1916. 

 The total number of cattle has again been increased, and is 

 the largest ever recorded. The number of cows in milk oa 

 .June 4 was 24,000 less than a year ago, but the total 

 dairy herd is 35,000 larger the number of heifers carrying 

 their first calves having been increased by nearly 40,U00» 

 whilst there were nearly 20,000 more cows in calf but not itt 

 milk. Both calves, and cattle from one to two year.s old, 

 liave been reduced in numbers, while those over two yetrs 

 have increased. Sheep show a considerable reduction, ihe 

 number of ewes kept for breeding declining by 170,000, and 

 lanibs by 570,000 Both sows and other pigs were being 

 kept in smaller numbers, and the total number of pij.< was 

 250,000 less than last year. 



