NOTES. 1007 



Department, tn the De{)artinent of Ajrrieiilture, was (U-tVatecl in ili,. House of Repre- 

 s-entatives June 10, considerable objection develoiiiiii,' on tlic scire of ailibtional 

 expense and divided autliority in administration. 



In the eonsi<leration by the House of Representatives of the l)ill for the irri<ralion 

 of arid lands, the agricultural colleges were brought forward i|uite immiinentiy and 

 in a way to show that they have many champions. The bill, as is known, dedicates 

 to the construction of irrigation works the funds arising from the sale of public lands 

 in the arid States, whit-h is the principal source from which the Morrill fund ia 

 derived. A clause in the bill provides that in case the receipts from the sale of pub- 

 lic lands not embraced by the irrigation bill are insufficient for the purposes of the 

 second ^lorrill act, the deficiency shall be made up from any moneys in the Treasury 

 not otherwise appropriated. An amendment to this clause, offered by Mr. Grosvenor, 

 Avas to the effect that no part of tb.e proceeds from the sales of public lands re(|uired 

 to carry into full effect the provisions of the act of August 30, 1890 (the second ^lor- 

 rill act), should be set apart or diverted to the irrigation fund; in other words, that 

 the colleges should be first provided for. The advocates of this amendment claimed 

 that the second ^Morrill act practically mortgaged a portion of the proceeds from 

 public lands; that the wisdom of this action was agreed to at the time the act was 

 passed, and that the clause in the irrigation bill as it stood would place the colleges, 

 in case of a deficiency, which was almost certain, at the mercy of Congress. 

 The amendment was discussed at much length, and the point was made that 

 the bill would take away the main support of the colleges, and would thus 

 make them a direct burden upon the other resources of the Treasury. The 

 position of the experiment stations in this regard was also pointed out, as well 

 as the effect which the passage of the bill might have upon the pending bill 

 to provide schools of mines in connection with the land-grant colleges. The 

 opponents to the amendment claimed that as the bill stood it made the neces- 

 sary provision for meeting the emergency, and that special legislation would not be 

 necessary in order to provide the funds. It was quite evident that the friends of 

 the irrigation bill realized how seriously Mr. Grosvenor's amendment would affect 

 its operation, by withholding so large an amount from its working fund. The 

 amendment was defeated and the irrigation bill, which has now become a law, 

 carries the provision mentioned above for maintaining the apiiropriation under the 

 second Morrill act. 



The Board of Agriculture of Great Britain has given notice that the Colorado potato 

 beetle has again made its appearance at Tilbury. It requests farmers and gardeners 

 to examine their potato plants and to send to the board any insects suspected to be 

 the potato beetle for investigation. The board has issued a leaflet with colored illus- 

 trations of the beetle, which it is sending out free of charge upon application. 



The Department of Agriculture of Victoria hasrecently begun the publication of a 

 journal similar to the monthly publications of a number of the Australian colonies. 

 In it will be reported the results of the investigations and studies carried on by the 

 officials of the Department of Agriculture, together with other matters of interest to 

 those engaged in agricultural pursuits. The first number contains over 100 pages on 

 subjects relating to horticulture and fruit growing, cereals, tobacco industry, economic 

 entomology, live stock, dairying, and veterinary .science. The articles are popular 

 in character, and the initial number presents an attractive appearance. It should 

 prove not only a useful source of information to the farmers of Victoria, but a means 

 of following up what is being done in experimental and educational branches in that 

 country. 



The following note regarding an international agreement for the protection of 

 birds useful to agriculture, concluded at Paris on March 19, is taken from Science: 

 The parties to the agreement are Belgium, France, Greece, Lichtenstein, Luxem- 



