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THE AGKICULTUKAL NEWS. 



Apkil 11, 1900. 



The arrangements necessary for the successful 

 distribution of the largo quantities of selected and 

 disinfected seed that will be required this year, will 

 impose a considerable addition to the heavy duties 

 already imposed on the officers of the Department, but 

 it is felt that, until the work of selecting and disinfect- 

 ing cotton seed has become thoroughly familiar to those 

 engaged in the industry, the assistance of the Depart- 

 ment is essential, in order to secure collective action in 

 a matter on which, it is no exaggeration to state, the 

 entire success of the industry depends. 



In special instances where planters propose to use 

 local seed, and desire to select and disinfect it as 

 required, for planting purposes, they are recommended 

 to consult the agricultural officers within their roach, 

 and obtain full information on the subject. A careful 

 study of the article entitled ' Disinfection of Cotton 

 Seed,' which appears on p. 119 of this issue, will also be 

 useful in this direction. 



The conditions under which the Department 

 undertakes to supply cotton seed during the coming 

 season are as follows : — 



The Department is prepared to supply the best 

 quality of selected and disinfected cotton seed, to meet 

 the requirements of planters during 190G, at cost price; 

 but it is desirable that it should be distinctly under- 

 stood that no liability whatever attaches to the 

 Department in regard to any seed that may arrive at 

 its destination in bad order. The Department's 

 responsibility ceases when the seed is placed on board, 

 at the port of shipment. 



It is recommended that, for their own protection, 

 the cotton growers should, on the arrival of the seed, 

 immediately turn it out of the bags or bands in 

 which it is received, and spread it on a dry floor for 

 a day or two, in order to get rid of any excess of 

 moisture which may be contained in it. Also, that 

 a few seeds should be tested for germination by 

 being planted in soil, or placed between folds of damp 

 cloth as described in the Agricultural Neivs (Vol. II, 

 p. 153). 



If so desired, a sample of the seed may also be 

 forwarded, for testing purposes, to the officer through 

 whom it was ordered ; but, in this case, the sample 

 must reach that officer within seven days after the 

 seed has been received by the purchaser, otherwise it 

 cannot be dealt with. 



It is recommended that all selected and disinfected 

 seed should be planted within a period of one month 

 after delivery. 



SCIENCE NOTES. 



At a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the 

 Royal Horticultural Society, held on March 0, mention 

 of which is made in the Gardeners Chronicle of 

 March 17 last, the following interesting points were 

 discussed : — 



Mealy Bug on Uandiias. — Mr. Saundei'S reported that 

 tlie mealy bug on bananas from Jamaica, shown by- 

 Mr. Worsley at the last meeting, appeared to belong to the 

 same species as the commonest of the greenhouse mealy bugs 

 {Dactytopius loiiffispinus, £>. adoiiidiciii, or Coccus adoaidum). 



Oranges Decaying. — Mr. Chittenden reported that some 

 Navel oranges had been received from the Western Orchards 

 Produce Company, with the request for some information as to 

 the cause of the rot that had set in. He had reported that the 

 oranges are attacked by the fungus I'enicillium, a frequent 

 cause of loss with oranges. The trouble usually appears 

 after the oranges are packed and on their way to England, 

 and this seems to have been the case with those sent. Navel 

 oranges are very frequently attacked, the open eye of this 

 fruit forming a convenient place for the entry of the minute 

 fungus spores ; sometimes, indeed, they are infected before 

 they leave the orchard, but more frequently in the curing 

 house. After packing, the disease may spread throughout 

 a box from one fruit to the next. 



The conditions for the growth of a fungus such as this, 

 are particularly the presence of moisture, warmth, and 

 a suitable substance upon which to grow. In the Navel 

 orange, a drop of water will often condense in the open 

 end, and there the fungus finds a very suitable place for 

 growth. 



The best means of preventing the growth of the fungus 

 in the fruits appear to be as follows : (1) Wrapping fruits 

 in tissue paper, a means wliich, combined with some amount 

 of ventilation in the boxes, has proved, within certain limits, 

 valuable as a preventive of decay. (2) Careful destruction 

 of decaying fruit (by deep burial or by fire) in the orchard 

 or the packing house, since, by this means, the number of 

 spores likely to be floating in the air will be greatly reduced. 

 (3) This should be combined with disinfection of the packing 

 houses, either by thorough drying, by whitewashing, or by 

 burning sulphur therein. 



Cultures of Nodule L'uderia. — Mr. Chittenden said that 

 experiments had been carried out in Esse.x during the past 

 year with cultures of nodule bacteria from America and 

 Germany on beans, peas, lucerne, clover, etc., but in every 

 case without yielding any increase in crop either in pot 

 cultures, or in the field, in spite of the fact that, in every 

 case the cultures were proved by means of control cultures 

 to be alive, and capable of vigorous growth. Dr. Somerville 

 said that this had been the experience throughout the 

 country, just as with 'uitragin' a few years ago. 



APPOINTMENT VACANT. 



The post of Agricultural Instructor, under the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture, is vacant at Dominica. Candi- 

 dates should be not more than thirty years of age, active, 

 accustomed to ride, and with good experience in practical 

 agriculture, especially cacao planting. Salary £130 per 

 annum, quarters free, with £20 for horse allowance, and 

 a small personal allowance, when travelling on duty. Applica- 

 tions, with full particulars as to .age and experience, to be 

 addressed to— 



The Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture, Head Office^ 

 Barbados. 



