286 Journal of Agriculiuu . Victona. [lo May, 1912. 



GENERAL N0TE8. 



By J. ir. P. 

 ERADICATION OF BRACKEN— 



From time to time various methods liave been adopted for the perma- 

 nent removal of bracken such as the use of spiked rollers or the appli- 

 cation of manures to encourage other herbage, but apparently the old- 

 fashioned method of repeated cuttings is the most effective yet tried. In 

 this connexion the recent experience on a large estate in England is 

 described in the Mark Lane Express of 19th June. When the bracken Avas 

 cut down continually its growth became less vigorous each year. Clean 

 cutting with a scythe or hook was the most effective, and care should be 

 taken to cut below the lowest leaves which if left will go on seeding. 

 Cutting should begin early in the year, and the more the growth of the 

 plant is stimulated by the process the quicker will be its ultimate exhaus- 

 tion. Burning and chain harrowing only encourage the evil by manuring 

 and otherwise improving conditions favorable to the growth of the plant. 



STRENGTH IN WHEAT— 



Much of the wheat exported from India is lacking in strength, and 

 except for its remarkable dryness has little to recommend it to the miller. 

 For some years the Indian Agricultural Research Institute at Pusa has 

 been collecting stock, both by selection and breeding new varieties, _ with 

 .a view to providing a higher class wheat for export. From Bulletin 22 

 recently issued the efforts seem to have met with success. Wheats have 

 been produced which in the climate of Western Bengal give not only a 

 much higher yield than the native wheats, but also are characterized by 

 great strength, and are therefore likely to command a higher price in the 

 home markets. Commenting on the successful issue of the experiments the 

 Journal of the Board of Agriculture (London) observes: — "The work at 

 Pusa confirms what has been established at Cambridge — that it is possible, 

 by the scientific methods of breeding associated with the name of Mendel, 

 to combine high quality with good yield. The results obtained last year 

 with Burgoyne's Fife — a new Cambridge wheat — shows that it gives a 

 grain equalling the Canadian in milling quality combined with the cropping 

 capacity of the best British wheats." There is a considerable field here for 

 the Australian wheat grower. 



AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM— 



The value of the principal articles of food imported into the United 

 Kingdom in 1911 was ^190,712,000. Of this vast total 40 per cent, 

 represented value of grain and flour, 24 per cent, live and dead meat, 19 

 per cent, dairy produce, and 4 per cent eggs. The leading sources of 

 wheat were India (20,161,518 cwts.), Russia (18,106,100), Argentina 

 (14,748,600), Canada (14,373,000), Australia (13,910,720), and United 

 States (12,939,229). Of beef less than one-fourth came as live cattle, the 

 great bulk being chilled and frozen beef (7,362,434 cwts.), and of this 

 Argentina contributed 83 per cent. Live sheep were unimportant, frozen 

 mutton being the principal source of supply. Of this 93 per cent, came 

 from three countries, New Zealand sending 1,981,467 cwts., Argentina 

 1,782,066, and Australia 1,291,696. Rabbits were imported as fresh 

 rabbits (57,808 cwts.) chiefly from Belgium, and as frozen rabbits from 

 Australia (394,155) and New Zealand (73-703)- The value per cwt. of 

 these frozen rabbits was, however, only about one-third of the value per 

 cwt. of the fresh Continental supply. Of bacon consignments (4,868,738 

 cwts.), Denmark sent 44 per cent.. United States 37. and Canada 13 per 



