.308 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



are not present in the soil. The bacteria-pro- 

 ducing nodules in different crops (say, soy bean 

 and cow pea) are not identical, and each legu- 

 minous plant may be said to have its own 

 organism. The importation of earth from a field 

 where a nitrogen-gatherer flourishes generally 

 suffices to start the formation of nodules on the 

 roots. 



Lime, while not required to any extent by 

 sandy soils, encourages the formation of humus, 

 which helps to fix phosphoric acid and potash. 

 Lime, therefore, though necessary, should be 

 only sparingly given— so that it may not unduly 

 encourage the development of soil bacteria 

 which hasten decomposition of organic matter. 

 Ground unburnt lime is to be preferred to burnt 

 and slaked lime. A dressing of half-a-lon of 

 ground oyster shells will generally be found suf- 

 ficient on a sandy soil. Lime, as is well-known, 

 is appreciated by most leguminous crops. 



In the New Jersey experiment the land (a 

 distinctly sandy soil), while under preparation, 

 was given 1,000 lb. lime, 320 lb. acid phosphate, 

 100 lb. ground bone, 160 lb. muriate of potash, 

 150 lb. of dried blood per acre. The returns 

 showed a gradual and marked increase, and it 

 is considered reasonable to assume that by sys- 

 temaUc cropping and fertilising, uncultivated 

 and unproductive lands may be profitably uti- 

 lised, particularly for the production of fodder 

 crops with which dairy-farming might be profit- 

 ably associated. 



It would, indeed, appear that sandy soils have 

 a great future before them and that some day 

 they are destined to be the scene of intelligent 

 and remunerative cultivation. 



COTTON EXPERIMENTS IN CEYLON. 



Aden, Jan. 23.— I have just had an interview 

 with Mr. Stewart J. McCall, on the deck of the 

 steamer " Kronprinz," as he was about to leave 

 Aden yesterday, en route for Nyassaland, where 

 he takes over the duties of Director of Agricul- 

 ture. There are few men who have had such a 

 varied experience in cotton growing as Mr. 

 McCall, and his name will be well remembered 

 by many officials of the Federal Department in 

 Washington and also in the cotton-growing 

 States of America, through which he passed on 

 a professional tour last summer. Prior to his 

 arrival at Aden, Mr. McCall had passed three 

 months in Ceylon, investigating the prospects 

 for cotton-growing in that island, and at the re- 

 quest of the Government wrote up an extensive 

 report on the subject, which is to be published. 



Early Experiments. 



He informed mo that attempts to grow cotton 

 in Ceylon in small quantities had been made for 

 many years ; but they had not been wholly suc- 

 cessful, owing to the fact that the most favour- 

 able seasons for plauting had not been observed, 

 and other essentials with regard to local con- 

 ditions had been omitted. He considered the 

 prospectsforcotton-growing in Ceylon decidedly 

 good, but it was necessary to plant in the dry 

 reason with adequate and regulated irrigation. 



He said the most favourable land was situated 

 in the northern provinces, where nearly four 

 million acres were available and suitable for this 

 purpose, under irrigation. At present, prac- 

 tically nothing is being done with the land In 

 question, so that the suggested schemes, if 

 carried into effect, would not in any way inter- 

 fere with the present products of Ceylon. 



"What are the prospects of a commercial 

 success being attained?" I inquired. 



" These are in every way excellent, ' Mr Mc- 

 Call replied, "as transport is cheap to and from 

 Colombo, beside which a good Government 

 railway penetrates the suggested provinces. 

 Naturally, considerable care would initially 

 have to be taken as regards the variety of cotton 

 introduced, and I consider that which has proved 

 the greatest sucess in Egypt is most suitable, 

 samples of which sent to Manchester as far back 

 as 1905 were valued at ninepence a pound, being 

 well up to the average of Egyptian cotton for 

 that year. Experiments have been conducted 

 throughout the three intervening years, and 

 there is now a considerable quantity of cotton- 

 seed of this particular type available, partly 

 acclimatised, at the Government experimental 

 station in Ceylon." 



Margin of Profit. 



" The matter is under the consideration of the 

 British Cotton Growers' Association at Man- 

 chester, besides attracting the attention of local 

 planters. The cost of production should net 

 average more than* sixpence a pound, so that the 

 margin of profit is a good one." 



The fact that Mr McCall previously held the 

 appointment of Lecturer on Agriculture at the 

 Agricultural College in Cairo, Egpyt, places him 

 in a position to speak authoritatively on Egyp- 

 tian cotton. — New York Herald, Feb. 7. 



NEW ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS 

 NUMBER. 



The Knapsack Sprayer "Eclair" No. 1. is 

 specially recommended for the treatment of 

 Flowers, Fruit Trees, Tea, Coffee, Cocoa and 

 all crops. It gives a fine or medium or a 

 coarse spray and readily accomplishes the effec- 

 tive discharge of "Bordeaux Mixture" and other 

 fluids whether thick or thin. The single nozzle 

 is arranged so as to deliver the spray straight 

 in front, right, left, up or down at the will 

 of the operator. The "lorpille" Knapsack 

 Sulphuring Pump is for the distribution of 

 Sulphur and other powders to destroy mildew. 



The Acme Chemical Co., Ltd. advertise their 

 specialities for the destruction of Lalang Grass, 

 scrub and other weeds, insect pests and fungoid 

 diseases. They are manufacturers of Arsenite 

 of Soda which has been successfully used in the 

 extermination of "llluk" Grass. Two of their 

 lines are recommended as non-poisonous insecti- 

 cides useful for washing animals, as well as trees, 

 plants, etc; 



The advertisement from the Diivan of Cochin 

 is referred to elsewhere in this issue, 



