438 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[OCT., 



should be spent in premiums of 10 ore (i^d.) for every rat killed and produced. In 

 the meantime, however, a patent rat destroyer has been invented in Denmark, called 

 Ratin, which is stated to be fatal to rats, whereas it may be taken by human beings, 

 dogs and poultry without danger. In the law it is stipulated, therefore, that part of 

 the grant shall be used on the Government properties and domains in experimenting 

 with Ratin and other remedies which may be found suitable. — F.O. Report, Annual 

 Series, No. 3862. 



Disinfection of Hides Imported into the United States. — A circular issued on 

 1 8th July last by the Treasury Department at Washington provides that no hides of 

 horses or cattle, except dry hides which have been arsenic cured, shall be imported 

 into the United States unless a certificate, signed by the American consul at the place 

 from which exported, be produced showing that such hides were disinfected prior to 

 shipment by immersion in a 1 to 1000 solution of bichloride of mercury until 

 thoroughly wet with such solution, and kept immersed for not less than thirty 

 minutes. 



Exhibition of Industry, Agriculture, &c, at Saragossa. — The Bulletin Mensuel 

 of the French Chamber of Commerce at Barcelona for June-July contains a notice to 

 the effect that the town of Saragossa is organising for next year an international 

 exhibition, the sections of which will comprise the following: — (1) Agriculture; 

 (2) Foodstuffs ; (3) Industry ; (4) Chemical industry ; (5) and (6) Art ; (7) Educational 

 Material, Books; (8) Social Economy; (9) Hygiene; (10) Various Industries. 

 {Board of Trade Journal, 5th September, 1 907.) 



Agricultural Machinery in Italy. — H.M. Consul-General at Naples (Mr. E. Neville- 

 Rolfe, M.V.O.) reports that the ordinary corn crops of the United Kingdom grow 

 abundantly in the plains round Foggia, and it is there that the trade in agricultural 

 implements is centred. The pioneers in this business were a British firm, since 

 turned into an Italian company under British management, whose business extends 

 all over the province of Bari. Considerable competition has come in from other 

 nations, reapers being almost entirely of the American patterns, and ploughs 

 and harrows largely of German and American make. With the exception of 

 some machines for olive crushing and wine pressing, which are made by a local 

 British firm, such machines are largely made in France, and where turbines are 

 used for the harnessing of water power they are chiefly imported from Switzerland. 

 "There is plenty of room," adds Mr. Rolfe, "for the expansion of British trade in 

 machinery, and it is somewhat surprising to relate that the splendid grass crops at 

 Carditello (a Royal domain near Naples) were in the spring of 1907 mown by hand 

 instead of by machinery, and with scythes of a pattern which we should not hesitate 

 to call extremely primitive." {Board of Trade Journal, 15th August, 1907.) 



london {Notification of Glanders) Order of 1907. — In connection with the Glanders 

 Order of 1907, attention may be directed to the London (Notification of Glanders) 

 Order of 1907, made by the Board on 12th September to come into . operation 

 on 1st January, 1908. This order applies to the administrative County of London 

 and to the City of London, and requires notification of disease. 



Cultivation of Flax. — Flax is as easily grown as oats or barley. It is not very 

 particular as regards soil, but prefers a light loam. The soil, however, should be clean ; 

 if weeds are numerous, hoeing must be resorted to. When seed is the chief object, 

 1 bushel per acre may be sown, but \\ to if bushels if straw is desired. The crop may 

 follow clover, roots or corn, but should not be taken after corn except on clean land. 

 Sowing should take place at the end of March or early in April, the ordinary corn-drills 

 being used. The rows should be seven to eight inches apart. The crop must be 

 horse-hoed if found necessary ; but this should not be necessary in most cases. 



Flax should be cut as soon as the seed is ripe, and the seed is best beaten out by 

 means of the flail, as the thresher breaks the straw badly. The value of the crop is 

 variable, depending on the demand for the straw, which, apart from its value for 

 fibre, is locally employed for thatching purposes. For this purpose it is an excellent 



