222 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



July U, 1906. 



the 



SHADE TREES. 



The Tropical Agriculturist, i'or May, contains 

 following article on the importance of shade trees 



TJ/E BOOK OF THE UOTlIAilSTED EXPERI- 

 MENTS : By A. D. Hall, M.A., Director of the Rothamsted 

 Experimental Station. London : John Murrai/^ Albemarle 

 Stn-et, W., 1905. 



In this work Mr. Hall summarizes a mass of information 

 that has accumulateil during the time these experiments 

 have been in progress, much of whicli has already been 

 published in the long series of Rothninsted Memoirs. 



The purpose of the Rothamsted experhnents has been to 

 ascertain how plants grow and obtain nutriment from the 

 soil. No attempt has been made at Rothamsted to 

 demonstrate the most profitable means of growing a particular 

 crop, but rather to arrive at princiiiles of general application, 

 which the farmer must adapt to his special conditions. 

 Mr. Hall's book, therefore, forms a complete guide to the 

 experiments. 



Wheat, barley, oats, root-crops, and leguminous crops have 

 been grown at Rothamsted continuously on the same land 

 for many years. The i)lants were manured, and from the 

 results conclusions were drawn as to the food requirements of 

 the various crops. Five chapters are devoted to these 

 experiments and one to grass land mown for hay every year. 

 As in the other experiments, it soon became evident what 

 manures were needed. 



Other chapters deal with miscellaneous subjects of 

 agricultural importance. The book is copiously illustrated 

 by a number of full-page plates and many diagrams. 



THE ATLAS OF THE WORLDS COMMERCE : 

 Edited by J. G. Bartholemew, F.R.S.E. J^ondon : George 

 Neivnes., Ltd., Southampton Street, Strand, W.C. To be 

 completed in twenty-two parts, issued fortnightl}-. Piice Qd. 

 each part. 



The first part of this excellent publication, which is 

 described as ' something new in the wa}' of atlases', appeared 

 on ^larch 15. 



The atlas is to consist of 176 large pages of coloured 

 plates, containing upwards of 1,000 maps and diagrams. 

 These are accompanied by descriptive text which practically 

 forms a dictionary of the commerce of the world. ' The 

 first object of this atlas is to show where all the commodities 

 of commerce come from — our food, drink, clothing, and all 

 that we use in our daily lives. It is a key to the 

 merchandise of the world: a summary of its material resources.' 



Reference to the parts already issued shows that every 

 endeavour has been made to bring the information contained 

 in this publication up to date. For example, in the articles 

 on cotton mention is made of the efforts of the British 

 Cotton-growing Association to extend the cultivation of this 

 product in British colonies, and of the establishment of the 

 industry in the West Indies. 



It is not only in mercantile circles that this atlas will 

 be found useful. There is no doubt that, with the increased 

 attention that is being i)aid to geography as a school subject, 

 this atlas will be much appreciated ; it is certainly likely 

 to prove a raluable acc[uisition to school libraries. 



in the tropics, with instructions as to planting, etc. : — 



Shade trees in the tropics are a boon to man and beast ; 

 they afford cool shelter from the fierce sun, beautify our 

 surroundings and render them healthy ; they form efl'ectual 

 wind-breaks, and enable us to grow beneath their shade 

 various crops which will not thrive under full exposure to- 

 the sun. 



Therefore it should be one of the first duties of every 

 person who owns, or is responsible for the upkeep (if, roads 

 to plant suitable shade trees along them. Open bleak areas 

 or bare pasture land may be rendered congenial and produc- 

 tive of tender herbage by the planting of shade trees. 

 Remember that trees grow while we sleep, and that in a few 

 years they may practically convert a wilderness into a paradise. 



For roadsides generally select kinds with a spreading 

 top and upright clean trunk for at least 1-5 feet. These are 

 also suited for parks and pasture land, though in this case 

 it is as well to select trees which combine the purpose of 

 ornament with that of shade. Fruit trees in many cases. 

 may afford profit as well as shade, but their use in public 

 places has obvious drawbacks. 



Some time previous to planting, make holes, 3 feet deep- 

 and the same in width, from 1-5 to 20 feet apart, and, 

 if possible, about 1-5 feet from the road. Water the plants 

 thoroughly, sup[iort them individually with stout sticks if 

 necessary, and shade with cadjan [pigeon peas, Cajanus. 

 indicii!:^ or other durable leaves. 



Protection from cattle is usually indispensable ; it may 

 be troublesome and expensive to provide this at first, but it 

 is economy in the end. The ground round the plants .should, 

 be kept free of n-eeds, and forked on the surface occasionally^ 

 Always look for vacancies on the approach of wet weather, 

 and supply these without delay. 



When pruning, be careful to cut the branches witk 

 a clean cut surface close to the stem; never leave a stump 

 when cutting a branch, as this will rot and most probably 

 bring disease to the heart of the tree, causing the latter to 

 assume a distorted and stunted shajie, if not premature death 



CATTLE POISONED BY JAVA BEANS. 



In reference to the note in the Acirieultural News- 

 (Yol. V, p. 3.51) on the chemical composition of the seeds of 

 the Lima bean (Fhuseolus lunatus), it; may be mentioned that 

 several cases of poisoning among cattle occuned in Scotland 

 last year, which were proved on investigation to be due to the 

 use of meal made from these beans. 



According to the Journal of the Hoard of Aiji iculture 

 ' it seems probable that the white beans yielded by the care- 

 fully cultivated vaiiety of Phastolus lunatus aie quite harmless 

 and so long as trade in this product is confined to tliis form, 

 there seems to be no risk of clanger. . . 



' In view of the above conclusions, the Board think that 

 farmers, dairymen, etc., should exercise great caution before- 

 using meal made from any but the white form of these beans, 

 while millers, dealers, and middlemen generally .should be 

 very careful to see that the beans or bean meal sold by them 

 do not possess any poisonous (jualities.' 



It is also reported that similar cases of poisoning, which 

 have been traced to the use of Java beans, occurred last year 

 in Holland and Belgium. The matter has been carefully 

 investigated in Scotland by Professor Mc Call, of Glasu-o\r 

 Veterinary College, and on the Continent by M. Guignard. 



