65 



toxic matter, for trees planted in it (the grass being removed) do 

 better than in soii taken from tilled ground, such toxic matter as there 

 was present in it having evidently become destroyed before the tree 

 started into growth : whether its presence originally in soil can be 

 estabished by its effect on germinating seeds, still remains to be seen. 



If the formation of a toxic substance is the explanation of the 

 grass effect, we might naturally expect great variations in this effect 

 in different soils : and this is certainly the case. At Ridgmont the 

 effect is, perhaps, greater than in any other instance which has come 

 under the writer's observation, but cases of very nearly the same 

 intensity have been found in various parts of the kingdom, whilst 

 only one instance has been noticed where the grass, apparently, had 

 no effect. This variation in intensity with the nature of the soil 

 is, probably, the chief reason why the action is not more widely 

 recognised ; but two other causes contribute to an under-estimation of 

 the grass effect, the one that it is very rare for a plantation to be 

 partly grassed in such a way as to give satisfactory evidence as to the 

 bad effect of this grassing ; the other, that the grassing is generally 

 effected gradually, extending throughout several seasons, and in that 

 case, it has been found, the effects are far less marked than they 

 otherwise are, the trees, apparently, becoming gradually adapted to 

 the altered conditions. 



No definite connection has yet been found between the nature 

 of the soil and the intensity of the action, but it does not appear 

 to be governed by the richness of the soil. The case, alluded to 

 above, in which the action has been nil, cannot be explained by 

 any greater depth of soil into which the tree roots penetrate, thus 

 getting away from the grass roots, for many of the trees have been 

 lifted, and all have been found to have their roots near the surface. 

 Spencer Pickering. (Gardener's Chronicle Dec. l8. 1909 p. 409.) 



STRAITS REPORT. 



London, December lOth, 1909. 



Beeswax: — Supplies during the past month have met a good 

 demand at full rates. 



Camphor: — A quiet market. Sales of fair China at 135/- to 

 l36/6d. per cwt. 



Capsicums: — East Indian rather quiet. Red, light and long value 

 25/ - to 30/-, yellow 32/6d. to 35/- per cwt. 



Cardamoms:— Have been in good request at firm to dearer rates ; 

 good to fine bold 2/6d. to 3/- per lb. 



Cloves:— Market has been very quiet, closing January to March at 

 4^d, March to May, 4f|d. 



