154 



vaccination of susceptible animals, and for which we are indebted 

 to the discovery of Arloing, Cornevin and Thomas, that animals 

 could be protected against black-leg by injecting them with more 

 or less virulent material obtained from the tumours of animals 

 that had died of the disease. The beneficial results of this treat- 

 ment may be appreciated by the reference made in our prelimi- 

 nary remarks concerning the record of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. And, further, it may be mentioned that 

 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1904, the Department dis- 

 tributed over 1,000,000 doses of black-leg vaccine, which were 

 used and reported upon by over 10,000 persons with highly satis- 

 factory results, the mortality reaching only 0.44 per cent. 



Black leg vaccine is now a commercial commodity and may be 

 obtained from, or through, any of our large wholesale druggists, di- 

 rections accompanying the material, or it may also be had, free of 

 cost, by making application to Dr. A. D. Melvin, Chief of Bureau 

 of Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C, and subscribing to certain stipulated condi- 

 tions. 



In conclusion, it may be stated that, although sheep and goats, 

 as well as cattle, are susceptible to black-leg, they are rarely at- 

 tacked by it, the disease being most common and destructive in 

 the young bovine species. 



NEW METHOD OF KEEPING FRUIT BYTHE USE 

 OF FORMALIN. ■ 



A good method of conserving fruit in as nearly as possible 

 its natural state has been largely sought after for a long 

 time, but whatever means have been employed, a perfect result 

 has not been obtained. One reason is the rapidity with which 

 fleshy fruits ferment and rot under the action — as Pasteur has de- 

 monstrated — of various organisms, fungi and bacteria. Taking 

 this view, and believing that if these micro-organisms could be 

 destroyed, the period during which the fruit can be kept in per- 

 fect condition might be considerably prolonged, the English agri- 

 cultural authorities have instituted a series of experiments under 

 the direction of the Jodrell Laboratory, Kew. These have been very 

 successful. The English Journal of the Board of Agriculture re- 

 viewed them in a recent number (No. 5, August, 1905, "Method of 

 preventing the rapid decay of ripe fruit.") This high authority 

 gives its fullest support to the scheme. 



The method which has produced the best results is to immerse 

 the fruit in cold water containing 3 per cent, of trade solution of 

 formalin (40 per cent, of formaldehyde.) 



There are two methods employed, accoi'ding as the fruit has a 

 soft pulp or is firm-fleshed, and whether it is eaten whole or not. 

 With the former class, to which cherries, strawberries, grapes, &c., 

 belong, the fruit is plunged into the solution for ten minutes. 



*From the Jimriial tV Agncvlture Pratviite, in Agrumltwal Gazette of 2f.S. Wales. 



