November, 1912.] 



365 



Experiments. 



It is recommended that Experimental Stations should be established 

 on each important soil-type (e.g., granite soils, sandstone soils, &c). and 

 the strength and quality of the soil tested by growing crops demanding 

 a large proportion of the chief mineral ingredients of plant food- To 

 test for quality of soil irrespective of climate and topography it is recom- 

 ended that a soil should be tested with indicator crops grown in large 

 pots at a central laboratory and compared with the same soil from other 

 parts. The analyses of these would then indicate the nearest approach 

 to experimentally-proved facts. Culture experiments could be carried 

 out at the same time to discover the value of different fertilizers, as 

 well as the action of bacterial cultures, bactericides, toxins and antitoxins. 



The bulletin referred to is replete with valuable information regard- 

 ing many points of interest to the cultivator of the soil, e-g„ colour, 

 acidity, alkalinity and nitrification ; and accentuates the fact that fertil- 

 ity does not depend primarily upon the proportions of plant food present 

 in the soil, but on a variety of contributing causes which have to be taken 

 into account ; while soil mapping is essentially the work of the Geologist 

 and Physiographer, who has at the same time given attention to the 

 origin of soils and the agricultural needs of the country. 



EXPORTS OF BRAZIL IN 1911. 



Rio de Janeiro, 9th September, 1912. 



The Editor of the Tropical Agriculturist. 



Sir,— From the report of our Minister of Finance for 1911 I take the 

 following table of exports :— 





Kilos. 



Value £. 



Cacao 



34.994,087 



1,641,381 



Coffee 



675,468,120 



40,401,206 



Cotton 



14,646,909 



978,998 



Hides 



2,797,909 



647,564 



Mate 



61,834,446 



1,983,209 



Leather 



31,931,698 



1,798,781 



Rubber 



36,547,135 



15,057,015 



Sugar 



36,208,301 



408,659 



Tobacco 



18,489,122 



965,375 



Sundry 





2,969,704 



Total ... £ 66,838,892 



The export of coffee (1,510 million pounds) is worth comparing with 

 the whole industry of tea. 



Brazil is now first country in the export of cacao. 



Mate has quite a large trade, for Brazil is a small mate-producing 

 country, yet exports over 130 million pounds, besides the great deal drunk 

 here. 



Of the tobacco 91 % goes to Germany. 



I am, Sir, 

 Your Obedient servant, 



JOHN C. WILLIS, 



