374 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



Hungary. — According to the official, report of the Ministry of Agriculture in the 

 middle of August the probable yields of the crops were likely to be somewhat higher 

 than the previous estimates. The yield of wheat, however, is estimated at only about 

 two-thirds of that of last year, and bailey, rye and oats are all expected to produce 

 less than in 1906. Maize, however, promises a higher yield. 



Austria. — The official report on the crops in the middle of August shows that a 

 good crop of wheat is expected, and the other crops are also satisfactory. 



Koumania. — According to an official report up to the end of July, transmitted 

 through the Foreign Office, the yield of cereals varies greatly. It is smallest in parts 

 of the plains, where little more than the seed will be recovered, whilst in Moldavia 

 and districts where there has been [more rain, a satisfactory, and in some localities 

 even a good harvest will be reaped. Barley and oats will give a better crop than wheat 

 and rye. Everywhere the quality of cereals is good. The estimate of the wheat 

 harvest given in last month's Journal is only 5,500,000 qrs., against an average of 

 8,940,000 qrs. during the past five years. 



Bulgaria. — According to Dornbusck (26th August), the wheat crop of Bulgaria is 

 estimated at about half the size of last year's yield, but the quality . is excellent in every 

 respect. 



Russia. — According to the Trade and Industry Gazette of 15th August, the 

 prospects of the cereal crops are considered to be above the average. The harvest 

 of winter wheat, however, is generally below, but spring wheat appears to be quite 

 up to the average. 



Canada. — The acreage sown with wheat in Manitoba in 1907 is officially estimated 

 at 2,790,000 acres, against 2,722,000 acre? in 1906. In Saskatchewan the area is 

 put at 1,958,000 acres, against 2,117,000 acres in 1906. The crop prospects at the 

 end of August were regarded as uncertain. In Alberta, the official estimate of the 

 wheat yield is 5,640,000 bushels, against 3,234,000 bushels last year. According to 

 JJornbusch (23rd August), the Government estimates the wheat crop in the West at 

 95,000,000 bushels, against last year's production of 100,000,000 bushels, and of 

 85,000,000 bushels in the previous year. 



Yellow Rattle or Rattle Grass. — A correspondent has sent from Willingdon, Sussex, 



specimens of a weed which was over-running certain land on chalk under down grass. 



This weed proved to be Yellow Rattle {Rhinanthus Crista- 



„. „ , galli, Linn.), locally named "Rattle grass." The weed 



1V11SC w ilciri v 0 US JNQluS* • 11 i 11 1 



is partially parasitic on grasses and various herbs, and may 



become obnoxious when it appears in great quantity. 

 Mowing the plant early before it ripens its seeds is probably the best means of getting 

 rid of it. This treatment should be followed for two years at least, and has been 

 found entirely satisfactory. Top-dressings of salt at the rate of 5 to 7 cwt.' per acre 

 have in some cases proved very effective, while close depasturing with sheep tends to 

 reduce it, although it is not liked by stock in either the dry or the fresh state. When 

 the plant affects damp ground, as in damp meadows and pastures, draining would be a 

 useful measure. The application of 7 cwt. per acre of basic slag before the end of 

 November, combined with close pasturing with stock is also likely to have a good effect 

 in repressing the growth of R. Crista-galli. On strong land the use of basic slag 

 results in luxuriant development of clover, and such pasture is closely eaten down by 

 stock. The consequence is that Yellow Rattle and most other weeds are prevented 

 attaining normal growth and seeding, and therefore soon disappear. It must be 

 emphasised that the basic slag and grazing must be combined, and the slag will 

 only have an influence on the parasite when the field is grazed, not mown. 



Wild Onion. — Specimens of the Wild Onion or Crow Garlic (Allium viueate), have 

 more than once been submitted to the Board for identification. This weed, which 

 usually occurs in patches and not regularly over the infested field, may, as shown by 

 experiments conducted at the Woburn Experiment Station, be destroyed or 



