AgriculUiral Education Exhibition, Doncaster, 1912. 209 



amongst the visitors. A noticeable feature was the case con- 

 taining materials taken from the crops of many species of 

 birds, and the quantity and the variety of the food of the 

 wood-pigeon was particularly striking. The zoological section 

 also included exhibits illustrative of the life histories of insects 

 injurious to farm and garden crops. The recent discoveries as 

 to the effect on the growth of crops produced by first heating 

 the soil, were well illusti-ated, and many diagrams showing the 

 results of field experiments throughout Yorkshire, the manurial 

 value of foods, the composition and value of hay made from 

 grass cut at different times, &c., were exhibited. A large series 

 of turf samples illustrated the effect of various manures. In 

 the dairying section were shown examples of dairy produce 

 made by the students, including cheeses, butter, and clotted 

 cream, and amongst the more popular exhibits were bottled 

 fruits, home-made wines, examples of blacksmiths' work, and 

 so on. Daily demonstrations were given of poultry trussing 

 and fruit bottling. 



The Agricultural Education Association was represented, as 

 in previous years, by a stand containing copies of prospectuses 

 and reports from the various Agricultural Colleges throughout 

 the kingdom. 



Exhibit of Home-grown Tobacco. — A new feature in this 

 section of the Show was Major G. F. Whitmore's exhibit of 

 tobacco grown by him at Methwold, in Norfolk. Every stage 

 of growth and production was shown, from the seed of the 

 tobacco plant to the finished article. In view of the proposals 

 for the growth of tobacco in this country, it might be of 

 interest to record here the existing relaxations of restrictions 

 upon tobacco-growing in England and Wales under the 

 Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910. This Act makes provision to 

 permit the growth of tobacco subject to licence from H.M. 

 Commissioners of Customs and Excise. Further, under the 

 provisions of this Act, rebate of one-third of the existing 

 duty of 3s. 6d. per lb. is allowable to growers upon a total of 

 100 acres for the years 1911, 1912, and 1913, subject to the 

 approval of the Board of Agriculture and H.M. Commissioners 

 of Customs and Excise. To growers under this allowance of 

 rebate, a further concession has been made by H.M. Com- 

 missioners in waiving the licence fee, and also the bond 

 which the grower is required to enter into according to the 

 letter of the regulations framed to meet the provisions of the 

 Act. 



The Britisli Tobacco Growers Society has made an appli- 

 cation to H.M. Treasury for a grant in aid of its work from 

 the Development Fund, and their application is now under 

 consideration. 



