278 



and flour bags. A very capital contrivance has been invented 

 for the purpose by Mr. John Wilson of Brisbane. It consists of 

 a handle 3 feet 6 inches long, i 1-8 inches round, at the end of 

 which is a knob, conical in shape, made of red gum. A sheep- 

 skin basil, having a hole in the center, is slipped over the handle 

 and is secured from coming off by the gum knob. A chafering 

 piece is provided inside anil outside of the basil to prevent fric- 

 tion and the three pieces are firmly rivetted together. Over the 

 top of the handle a metal socket is passed, which keeps the whole 

 in position, and is secured by a screw. One of the best points 

 of the invention is the admirably adjusted weight of the socket, 

 which enables a firm downward effective blow to be given when 

 dealing with cane or heavy g;-ass. There is nothing like leather ! 

 — Queensland Agricultural Journal. 



IMPROVEMENT OF PASTURES. 



In a recent address by Professor Angus, he deplored the little 

 attention given to the improvement of grazing land. Year after 

 year they were impoverishing the land by feeding, and they 

 gave nothing in return. He explained at length the best manures 

 to use for improving grazing lands, and the methods of using 

 them. Even poor land, if broken up, drained and properly 

 treated, could be made to yield good pasturage. He emphasized 

 the necessity of lime dressing land to sweeten the herbage and 

 to get rid of mouldy conditions. As manures for grazing land 

 he favored Thomas phosphate or basic slag and bones. — Journal 

 of Agriculture of South Australia. 



POULTRY MANURE. 



a 



The most valuable of all animal manure is poultry droppings. 



It 'is most useful just where it is most needed — the vegetable 

 garden. The poultry of Jamaica could produce value to the ex- 

 tent of many thousand pounds of manure if it were all saved. 

 But how few people house their poultry as night? Fresh earth 

 should be put beneath the roosts every day — (five minutes is 

 enough time to clear the place up every morning) and the manure 

 should be put in a barrel under cover till the barrel is nearly 

 full, when it should be applied to the garden. — Journal of the 

 Jamaica Ao^ricultural Xt^cictv. 



