396 GAME AND GAMK l'RE.SEk\-\Tl< ).\ IN ZrEULAN'O. 



to do with just what we will, but that they constitute an inheri- 

 tance to be handed down to our children and to theirs again — 

 these voices have an equal right to be heard with those of others. 

 As Dr. G. D. Maynard. F.R.C.S.E., of the South African 

 Institute for Medical Research, has so aptly put it. " It is easy 

 to propose remedies entailing the adoption of measures of eco- 

 nomic importance, but inhabitants who have to reap the after- 

 math will demand expert o]>inion and a reasonable probability of 

 success before deciding to carry out such recommendations." I 

 ask for whole-hearted support in the u])-hill task which lies before 

 those who seek to preserve to the sub-Continent the most striking 

 and by far the most beautiful of its characteristics. 



Physical Conditions on Mars.~ Ihe British 



Astronomical Association has recently published, as volume 20, 

 part 4, of its Memoirs, the tenth report of the section for the 

 observation of Mars. It is assumed that the mean tem})erature 

 of Mars must be above the melting point of ice, and almost 

 comparable with that of the earth. The atmosphere of the 

 planet is extremely trans})arent : its absorbing power for light 

 is feeble, and it has no reflective power. Hence stars must 

 be visible in the Martian lirmament in broad daylight. On a 

 small scale Mars has its trade and anti-trade winds ; and white 

 clouds, probably analogous to. but much less fre(|uent or dense 

 than our own, float in its skies : their height above the planet's 

 surface is comparable with that of our own clouds. The pre- 

 sence of snow at the poles necessitates the existence of water 

 on Mars, which would appear grey, greenisli or black. acc(^rd- 

 ing to the nature and depth of the bottom. The lawn-green 

 areas are probably due to vegetation, and the vast ruddy ex- 

 panses have the colour of sandy deserts, in which there are 

 many dusky irregularities, a]>])arently corres])()n(ling to our 

 valleys. Change in outline of the greenish marks ma) be 

 accounted for bv growth and decay of vegetation, and the 

 yellow clouds which veil, often for months together, extensive 

 regions of the i)lanet. are probably due to sand dust raised from 

 the desert regions. Mars may tlierefore still be inhabited, but 

 it has certainly reached the stage of <lecrei)itu(le in i)lanetar\- 

 life. 



Phosphate Scarcity. - G n.^-ecjuent upon the difliculty 



of obtaining i)liosph;itic fertiHsers, the President of the Board 

 of .Agriculture and iMsheries of the Cnited Kingdom has ap- 

 pealed to farmers to cease a]>plying phosphates to meadows and 

 pastures during tlie ))resent >eason. and to reserve all available 

 su]:i)lies for other crojjs, |;articularl\- root crops and potatoes. 

 In view of the short supplies, it is advised iliat only three- 

 fourths of the usual dressings of the.se phosphatic fertilisers 

 slK'Uld be applied in the case of lands of uniform (|ualitv, and 

 where land in good condition can be given full dressings of 

 farmyard manure the omission of artificial ])hos])hatic manures 

 is suggested. 



