565 
NATURE 
[AuGusr I, 1912 
Australian continent—as exemplified by the theory of 
a peneplane extending from New Guinea to Tasmania 
—Dr. Danes cannot bring himself to accept, at all 
events in their entirety, the views of previous 
observers with regard to the establishment of present 
conditions. To put the matter briefly, he considers 
that the peneplane of eastern Australia was divided 
into a number of basins devoid of outlet and occupied 
by shallow lakes, which tended to dry up during pro- 
longed drought, such lakes being, therefore, of in- 
dependent origin, and not ‘“‘cut-offs.’’ Climatic con- 
ditions were then much more favourable to the 
development of an abundant flora and fauna, which 
will explain the occurrence of the great extinct mar- 
supials in the Pleistocene beds of Darling Downs. 
Desiccation of the area led to the death of the old 
fauna and flora. 
In this respect he is in accord with Dr. A. C. 
Gregory, who wrote that ‘there is no trace either in 
the Darling Downs or any other part of Queensland 
of any violent convulsion of nature which would be 
adequate to cause the total destruction of the dipro- 
todon and co-occupants of the country, and it seems 
most probable that their extinction resulted from a 
gradual change of climate and more effectual drain- 
age of the watercourses—aided, perhaps, by some 
slight changes in level.” R. Ee 
SOME ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS ON 
AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 
OF the numerous agricultural periodicals and 
journals published in Great Britain none is 
more important than the Journal of the Royal Agri- 
cultural Society, which comes out annually, and gives 
some account of advances that have been made in 
the practice or the science of agriculture during recent 
times. The current issue is the seventy-second 
volume, publication having been continuous ever since 
1840; although smaller in bulk than some of the old 
volumes, it well maintains the high standard set by 
Mr. Mackenzie when he took over the editorship 
some four years ago. 
The opening article, by Prof. T. B. Wood, gives 
an able summary of our present knowledge of the 
composition and food value of bread. Probably no 
single product possesses greater interest to the agri- 
culturist than wheat, even though in many cases it 
has fallen to the level of a by-product, and has ceased 
to be the staple of the farm. The advances in milling 
technique have led to considerable alterations in the 
relative values of the different wheats; formerly a 
white wheat possessed chief value because it gave 
the whitest flour, while now a red wheat is equally 
useful. Recently the hard wheats of great strength 
have come into favour, because of their capacity for 
making a large loaf; these wheats are more economic- 
ally produced in continental areas—Canada, the 
United States, &c.—than here. In general, however, 
flour is. made from a mixture of wheats carefully 
graded to secure certain definite characters. This 
blended flour does not show the deficiencies in protein, 
&c.. that an unblended flour would show in com- 
parison with the whole grain, so that a usual argu- 
ment in favour of brown bread loses much of its 
force. This paper is followed by one on the milling 
of wheat, by Mr. A. E. Humphries. Of the other 
papers, one on green crops, by Prof. Malden, is of 
more than technical interest, and shows that the 
ordinary agriculturist does not utilise as fully as he 
might certain plants that would be very useful to him. 
An interestin® investigation on ropy milk has been 
published by Mr. J. Golding in the Journal. of the 
Board of Agriculture (No. 12). This is a disease of 
NO. VoL. 89] 
2oem. 
' by Mr. G. H. Garrad. 
mill brought about by bacteria, and causing the mill 
to take on a rope-like form when poured from a jug, 
or to draw out into long threads, sometimes a yard in 
length, when taken up in a spoon. Several bacteria 
are known that can effect this change, and one of 
them, the Bacillus lactis viscosus of Adametz, was 
investigated in some detail. 
The possibility of growing tobacco in England is 
being investigated at the Wye Agricultural College 
It is proposed to grow the 
crop for the sake of its nicotine, which forms an 
| admirable insecticide, but is at present very costly for 
| GRANTS 
the grower. Messrs. Garrad and Edwardes-Ker con- 
clude that extraction of the nicotine from the leaf is 
not necessary, satisfactory washes being obtained when 
the leaves are simply macerated in water. Permission 
to grow tobacco for this purpose could not be obtained 
unless the leaves could be denatured so thoroughly as 
to be unsmokable. The authors are at present at 
work endeavouring to find some method of doing 
this. 
FOR SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES 
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. 
MEMORANDUM showing advances from the 
Development Fund, sanctioned by the Lords 
Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury, to or 
through the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, up 
to March 31, 1912, has recently been published as a 
Parliamentary Paper [Cd. 6252{ (price 1}d.). The 
subjoined extracts show the amounts and purposes of 
the grants. 
4 
(1) ImpRoveMENT oF Licur Horse BREEDING. 
In 1910 the Board applied for an advance from 
the Development Fund in respect of a scheme for 
the improvement of light horse breeding, and in 
January of the following year the Treasury, on the 
recommendation of the Development Commissioners, 
sanctioned an advance of 39,8001. to be expended 
generally on the lines of the scheme proposed by the 
Board. 
A further grant of a sum not exceeding 12501. was 
also sanctioned to meet the expenses of administra- 
tion. In August, 1911, the Treasury, on the recom- 
mendation of the Development Commissioners, 
sanctioned an advance of an additional sum not ex- 
ceeding 10,0001. for allocation before March 31, 1912, 
to enable county committees to purchase brood mares 
in time for the breeding season of 1912, the original 
grant of 10,000]. having been allocated early in the 
financial year 1911-12 for the purposes of the breed- 
ing season of rgII. 
The Treasury, on of the 
the recommendation 
| Development Commissioners, has sanctioned an ad- 
| year 
vance of 40,0001. or such part thereof as may be 
required in respect of the scheme, in the financial 
1912-13. 
(2) AGricuLTURAL RESEARCH. 
(i.) Interim Advances. 
The Board made an application for an advance of 
| 50,0001. per annum from the Development Fund for 
the organisation of a system to aid and develop agri- 
culture by promoting scientific research and experi- 
ment, and for the provision of technical aid and 
advice to agriculturists. The Treasury, on the recom- 
mendation. of the Development Commissioners, has 
sanctioned an interim advance of such part of a sum 
of 97061. as might be required in the financial year 
IgtI-12 for the purpose of making the following 
grants :— 
