253 



face of this fact some temperate-region agronomists do not seem 

 to be able to understand why things should not be done thus and 

 so in the tropics — along lines well established in temperate re- 

 gions. The light will not dawn upon such, or rather the knowl- 

 edge of the lack of light, until they join the ranks of pioneers in 

 a new tropical country and undertake the practical establish- 

 ment of well-ordered cacao or coconut plantations. It is evi- 

 dent, for instance, in Doctor Copeland's discussion of fertilizers, 

 that the subject is still an open one. no comprehensixe experi- 

 ments having yet been carried through a sufficiently long term of 

 years. The subject of the seed selection of the coconut still 

 requires thorough investigation and experimentation. 



"Doctor Copeland does not mention the interesting case of the 

 small island of Rotumah in the South Seas, v\diich is said to pro- 

 duce coconuts of unusual size and value. These coconuts, in 

 years past, are said to ha\e been used extensively for the estab- 

 lishment of plantations in other islands, some being reputed to 

 have brought as much as a shilling apiece as seed. It woidd be 

 a matter of the highest interest and importance to trace the 

 results obtained from these seeds in other islands and under 

 other conditions." 



An article in this number from the Tropical Agriculturist 

 (Ceylon) on new types of tobacco shotdd be interesting to the 

 pioneers of Hawaii's revived tobacco industry. 



Both interest and value are added to the article from the Maui 

 News, replying to the Garden Island, on the homestead ques- 

 tion, which is reprinted elsewhere, from the fact that the Maui 

 writer (Mr. W. J. Cooper) is himself one of the Kuiaha home- 

 steaders. 



\\ . T. Cox, in the North Woods, organ of the Minnesota For- 

 estry Association, advocates the use of aeroplanes in patrolling 

 forests for the prevention of fires. This is not so wald as it 

 might otherwise appear, because there is a possibility of secur- 

 ing cooperation with a naval aero station in Minnesota. Mr. Cox 

 points out that the lake-dotted area of the northeastern part of 

 the State is peculiarly adapted to patrol l)y the use of hydro- 

 aeroplanes or flying boats. 



Messrs. Russell and Budden, in discussing the results of the 

 application of various disinfectants to the soil, conclude that none 

 of the well-known antiseptics is as good as steam either in in- 

 creasing the amount of ammonia in the soil, killing insect and 

 fungoid pests, or in inducing a good soil development. — Tropical 

 Agriculturist. 



