^ULY, 1908.] 



IS) 



Scientific Agriculture. 



It must be borne in mind that these 

 plots have been continuously manured 

 with sulphate of ammonia or with 

 nitrate of soda for fourteen years 

 only, that the nitrogenous manurings, 

 although high, have not been at all 

 excessive (60 lbs. of nitrogen equivalent 

 to 2| cwts. of sulphate of ammonia per 

 acre per annum), and that the alterna- 

 tion of the manures has only extended 

 over one crop. "Where soils, especially 

 on the lighter lands of the colony, have 

 been manured continuously for from 

 thirty to fifty years with sulphate of 

 ammonia, its souring-action may have 

 become marked, and decreases in the 

 yields resulted therefrom. This point is 

 worthy of consideration and investiga- 

 tion by the planters of the colony. The 

 souring is easily ascertained by analysis, 

 the cure for it lies in the application of 

 lime and not solely in changing the use 

 of sulphate of ammonia to one of nitrate 

 of soda. — Journal of the Board of Agri- 

 culture of British Guiana, Vol, I., No. 4, 

 April, 1908. 



NOXIOUS WEEDS. 



Every effort is being made by the 

 Department of Agriculture to cope with 

 the destruction of noxious weeds in the 

 several settled districts of the State. 

 Recently, secretaries and members of 

 Road Boards were appointed honorary 

 inspectors in order to supplement the 

 Government's endeavours to carry out 

 the Act. Pettlers on the railways are 

 also instructed to report when they dis- 

 cover poison plants and noxious weeds. 



The following have been gazetted as 

 noxious weeds under the Act throughout 

 the State : — Stinkwort, Bathurst Burr, 

 Noogourn Burr, Nut Grass, Spanish Rad- 

 ish, Prickly Pear, Apple of Sodam, Sweet 

 Briar, Wild Bramble, Star Thistle (pur- 

 ple), Double Gee, and Water Hyacinth. 



In order to assist persons to recognise 

 the above plants, the Department has 

 prepared an illustrated Bulletin, which 

 will be ready for distribution in a few 

 days. — Journal of the Department of 

 Agriculture, Western Australia, Vol, 

 XVL, Part 4, April, 1908. 



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