440 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[OCT., 



price of labour rose proportionately, so that sheep farming has 

 become unprofitable. The number of sheep reared in the 

 Caucasus is diminishing every year, and sundry farmers have 

 removed their flocks to the vast steppes of South-Western 

 Siberia, where land is to be had for nominal prices. It is 

 anticipated that emigration to this district is likely to be suc- 

 cessful, and that in this way millions of acres in the Caucasus 

 will be available for grain-growing and to supply the wants of 

 the Russian peasant. 



Poultry Exhibition at Moscow. — The Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries are informed by the Russian Embassy, through 

 the Foreign Office, that an exhibition of poultry, which will 

 include an international section, will be held at Moscow in 

 November next by the Russian Poultry Society. The Exhibi- 

 tion will be open from the 29th November to the 4th December. 



Thz Mediterranean Fruit Fly {Ceratitis Capitata). — This 

 insect is a serious pest in many places, particularly in South 

 Africa and Australia, and it has been found in Great Britain."^ 

 In the Comptes Rendus (Aug. 20th), of the French Academy of 

 Sciences, M. Alfred Giard draws attention to the fact that six 

 years ago its presence was observed on apricot trees at Cour- 

 bevoie, in the neighbourhood of Paris. It was then very rare. 

 Since that time, however, it has increased, and now the peach 

 trees in various districts round Paris are seriously attacked. 



M. Giard urges the importance of investigations into its life- 

 history, particularly as regards any modification due to climate 

 the conditions under which it hybernates, and whether it has 

 attacked any wild fruit growing in the neighbourhood of the 

 infested orchards and fruit gardens. He also suggests that 

 steps should be taken to prevent its importation with foreign 

 fruit. 



The Board would be glad if any instances of its occurrence 

 in Great Britain could be brought to their notice. 



Hessian Fly in North of Scotland. — The Board of Agriculture 

 and Fisheries have received information that the crops in certain 

 parts of the North and East of Scotland have been affected by 

 the Hessian Fly. A leaflet containing a description of this pest 



* Journal, VoL XIL, p. 690, February, 1906. 



