SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XVII. No. 414 



of the publication cited, and in the later full description, no 

 statement is made of the indebtedness of the inventor to these 

 older machines, except in the case of the original description 

 of the lance and nozzle {op. cit., vol. v. No. 2), where credit 

 is given. This naturally gives the impression that the appa^ 

 ratus is novel in many or all of its features. 



When compared vrith the French machines, the following 

 facts become apparent : — 



(1) The reservoir is practically identical with that of the 

 Vermorel, Japy, and other French machines, and the open- 

 ing for introducing the liquid with sti'ainer and lid presents 

 no new features. 



(2) The pump is an ordinary double-cylinder (or hollow 

 piston) force-pump, the hollow piston furnishing an air- 

 chamber which causes the liquid to be forced out in a con- 

 tinuous stream. 



(3) The lance and nozzle combination consists of the Riley 

 nozzle fitted to a lance, and provided with a degorging appa- 

 ratus, which also acts as a stop-cock modelled exactly after 

 Eaveueau's apparatus, and is practically the same as the 

 Japy degorger and stop-cock, except that the action is re- 

 versed. In the latter (see Insect Life, vol. i. p. 265, Fig. 61) 

 the spring normally closes the discharge orifice; and in the 

 former the orifice is normally open, and is closed by the ac- 

 tion of a lever in the spring. 



That this modification of the foreign knapsack sprayers 

 will prove a serviceable one for vineyard work, and by reason 

 of its cheapness and availability come into general use, I 

 have little doubt. 



Strawson's Air-Power Distributer. 



A new and distinct type of insecticide machine, the inven- 

 tion of Mr. G. F. Strawson, Newbury, Berks, England, has 

 attracted no little attention, and has received numerous 

 awards during the past two years at various agricultural 

 shows in England, and has been very favorably noticed and 

 recommended by competent judges. It was shown at the 

 late Paris Exposition, and was thoroughly tested before a 

 select jury, from which it j-eceivecl the highest praise, and 

 was awarded a gold medal. I had occasion to study it thor- 

 oughly not only at Paris, but at the Royal Show at Windsor, 

 and am under obligations to the inventor for courtesies and 

 facilities afforded. 



It will have, in common with all the heavier and more 

 expensive machines, to contend with the more popular and 

 less expensive portable machines. It has many advantages 

 in the control of the volume and character of what it dis- 

 seminates, and, with some modifications and adaptations for 

 nether spraying, it would prove extremely serviceable in 

 extensive fields of any crop that needs such spray, and where 

 the rows are relatively straight and the plants low. The 

 principle also is a good one, and practicable, with modifica- 

 tions, for many other uses. 



The machine is called the "' Strawsonizer," and is a pneu- 

 matic or air-blast distributer, and may be adapted to a variety 

 of uses, such as broadcast sowing of grains, distribution of 

 fertilizers or of disinfectants in cities, and of dry or liquid 

 insecticides. 



The machine is light, simple in construction, and easily 

 operated by one man ; the larger sizes being drawn by one 

 horse, and the smaller by hand-power. It is constructed 

 largely of wood, and is mounted on two iron wheels. The 

 distributing power is obtained by a blast of air produced by 

 a revolving fan worked by the travelling-wheels of the ma- 

 chine. 



The essential part consists of a suitable receptacle or hop- 



per, either for liquid or dry substances, from which the ma- 

 terial is fed automatically and regularly to the blast gen- 

 erated by the revolving fan, the whole operated by suitable 

 gearing. A receptacle for either dry or liquid material can 

 be employed in connection with suitable nozzles or deflecting 

 devices on all the machines; so yiat, with practically one 

 apparatus, all the kinds of work indicated above can be ac- 

 complished. 



For solids a metal spreader is used, while for liquids noz- 

 zles of the direct discharge type, but variously arranged to 

 suit different requirements, are employed. 



Very uniform and rapid work may be done with this ma- 

 chine in broadcast sowing of wheat, oats, and smaller seeds. 

 These are distributed with great regularity over a track from 

 eighteen to twenty feet wide, giving a rate of from thirty to 

 forty acres per day. It is especially serviceable as a dis- 

 tributer of fertilizers (phosphates, nitrate of soda, lime, etc.) 

 and all insecticide powders, which latter may frequently he- 

 applied in connection with the former substances. 



Liquid insecticides are distributed broadcast at a rate of 

 from one gallon upwards per acre, and, by the action of the 

 powerful blast of air, are broken up into a fine mist, which 

 spreads uniformly to a width of twenty feet. Nozzles for 

 upright or lateral spraying would adapt the machine for- 

 work in hop fields or orchards. 



A patent for the apparatus has recently been taken out irt 

 this country; but its manufacture here has not, so far, been 

 inaugurated. "* 



The one-horse-power machine for broadcasting grains, fer- 

 tilizers, and either solid or liquid insecticides, with suitable 

 receptacles and nozzles, is retailed in England for £30 ster- 

 ling, or $150. If fitted with special nozzles for vertical work,. 

 £2 extra are charged. Hand-power machines are sold for 

 £12 and £14; These prices would be even greater in this: 

 country, and would doubtless interfere with its adoption? 

 were it not that it combines the other advantages indicated.. 



(To be coQtinued.) 



THE CORK-INDUSTRY IN SPAIN. 



The cork-tree is found in Spain in great abundance in the- 

 provinces of Gerona, Carceres, and Andalusia, especially in the- 

 provinces of Huelvas, Seville, and Cadiz, and, although in less 

 quantity, in the provinces of ^Ciudad Real, Malaga, Cordoba, To- 

 ledo, and some others. The United States consul at Barcelona 

 says, that, according to a calculation made by the administration 

 of forests the extent of cork-forests in Spain is about 255,000 hec- 

 tares (a hectare is equivalent to 3 47 acres), distributed as follows: 

 80,000 in the province of Gerona, 45,000 in Huelvas, 32,500 in 

 Carceres, 38,000 in Seville, 30,000 in Cadiz, 11,500 in Ciudad Real, 

 and 9,500 in Cordoba. In the localities exposed to the north the 

 cork is better than in those exposed to the .'^outh, and it is seldom 

 found in calcareous soil, preferring always that of the felspar, this 

 being found principally in the province of Gerona. It grows and 

 develops in ground of very little depth, and sometimes in very 

 stony ground. The leaves of the cork-tree are oval oblong or 

 elongated oval, frequently toothed, and the teeth jagged; length, 

 from three to five centimetres, and width from one and a half to 

 two. The roots are strong, and spread considerably, and are fre- 

 quently to be seen on the surface of the ground. It sometimes 

 happens that the portion of root exposed to the air produces cork, 

 while that which is buried produces scarcely any. The most 

 common practice is to cultivate the plant by sowing, which is fre- 

 quently done, especially in ground somewhat manured, making, 

 alternate furrows with vines. Up to their twentieth or twenty- 

 fifth year the ground is cultivated as if it were a vineyard, rooting 

 up at that age the vines on account of producing less fruit, and 

 also on account of the cork-trees being fairly grown up, and no- 



