Notes. 485 



sowing- of 1919-20 winter cereals in the northern hemisphere. Here 

 it is found that in certain countries (Spain, France, Scotland, 

 Roumania, Bessarabia, Canada, United States, British India, Japan, 

 and Tunis) representing 40 per cent, of the average area under crop 

 during- the five years 1913-14 to 1917-18 the acreage under wheat 

 shows a further downward tendency. In these countries the total 

 area sown is 7.7 per cent, smaller than that of the last winter 

 (1918-19) and 9 per cent, less than the average acreage under crop 

 during the five seasons prior to the last. This falling off is caused 

 principally by decreased sowings in the United States, where the 

 acreage under wheat is as much as 23.2 per cent, less than the pre- 

 vious year and 3.5 per cent, less than the average of the five years' 

 period. On the other hand, in British India the past winter sowings 

 were 21.5 per cent, greater than those of the previous season, but are 

 still under the five years' average to the extent of 9.4 per cent; 

 Although, as will be seen, the position in certain important producing 

 countries is not reported, the above figures should give some indica- 

 tion in respect of a large portion of the world's wheat supply. 



In so far as the wheat production of the Union is concerned, 

 certain figures were published in the May, 1920, issue of the Journal 

 (page 190). Information in regard to the present season's sowings 

 is now being obtained, and will be published in the Crop Report in 

 next month's issue. 



Note. — Since writing the above, a Renter message, dated 2nd 

 July from Rome, has appeared in the Press to the effect that, accord- 

 ing to statistics issued by the International Institute of Agriculture, 

 indications point to a good European harvest, the outlook for the 

 coming year not justifying serious anxiety either for importers or 

 exporters. 



Rat Poisons. 



A recent issue of the " Tropical Diseases Bulletin " contains, in 

 a discussion of plague, the information quoted hereunder in respect 

 of rat destruction : — 



The importance of rat-killing is beginning to be realized in Eng- 

 land, as shown by experiments conducted at the Zoological Gardens, 

 London, by Mr. E. Boulenger. The experience gained being, in 

 chief part, as useful in the tropics as in temperate climates, the 

 following account of results observed are reproduced from The Times 

 (London) : — 



" Giving the conclusions he (Mr. Boulenger) had arrived at, he 

 said that squill poison, the extract of the bulk of the common 

 Mediterranean plant, Scilla Tnaritim a, which in the small quantities 

 necessary for rat destruction is harmless to domestic animals, gave 

 the most satisfactory results. It is best used by soaking bread in a 

 solution of the poison mixed with milk. Barium carbonate, of which 

 1| to 2 grains kills a rat, although 10-15 grains are harmless to a 

 chicken aud 100 grains to a dog, is next best. It should be mixed 

 with tallow, and smeared on bread. It can be used effectively with 

 squills. It has the effect of making the rats thirsty, and after it has 

 been put down, bowls of squills and milk should be placed where th© 

 rats will go to drink. 



