Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo June, 1910. 



When once a sterilizing plant of this description has been fixed in 

 position, the operation can be carried out at little more than the cost of the 

 labour, for it is a convenient method of disposing of the accumulations of 

 leaves, pieces of wood, and other refuse. 



A steam steriliz?r similar to the one described has been found indis- 

 pensable by florists, nurserymen, and others engaged in intense culture. 

 We have been informed that without its use it would be quite impossible 



to place certain annuals on 

 the market, except at prices 

 quite beyond the reach of 

 the general public. For 

 the sterilization of soil and 

 manure not onlv destroys 

 all the forms of life in- 

 jurious to plants in the 

 sliape of insects, worms, 

 fungi, &c., but it also 

 kills the seeds of all weeds 

 present in the soil, render- 

 ing the tedious and ex- 

 pensive operation of weeding 

 PLAN OF STERILIZER. Unnecessary. 



Professor Stone, of Massachusetts, has estimated that the cost of steri- 

 lizing 1,000 cubic reet of soil with an apparatus of this kind would amount 

 to 8s. approximately. Steam has an advantage over drv heat in two 

 ways; it leaves the soil in a good condition for immediate use and 

 noxious weeds and pests of all kinds are killed more quickly. Professor 

 Stone found that ft was possible to kill eel-worm in the soil by heating it 

 to a temperature of 140 deg. F. This is in contradiction to as.sertions 

 made by .some practical growers to the effect that it is necessary to employ 

 a temperature of 212 deg. F. Tt seems to be a question of thoroughness 

 of application; a temperature ol 170 (U^g. F. will certainly kill all eel- 

 worms of their ova and it only remains to ai)ply steam to the infested 

 .soil so that every portion reaches this or a higher temperature. 



3-iii. drain 

 piles 



THE REARING OF QUeeX 15EES. 



R. Beulnic, Prcsidoil, Victorian Apiarists' Association. 



The selection of a queen from which to breed for the purpose of super- 

 seding old or inferior queens, or the queens of colonies showing a preclis 

 position to disease, viciousness or some other undesirable trait, is not only 

 of the greatest importance but also a most difficult problem. 



It is upon the prolificacy of the queen and the longevity and vigour of 

 her worker progeny that the larger or smaller amount of surplus honev 

 depends; but the most prolific queen is not necessarily the best to breed 

 from. Experience has shown that the queen progeny of an exceedingly pro- 

 lific queen rarely equal their mother ; when they do, they produce w-orkers 

 which are constitutionallv delirate. and these neA-er yield the amount ot 



