502 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[NOV., 



Agricultural Machinery in Italy. — Some remarks on the opening for British 

 agricultural machinery in Italy, from the report of Mr. E. H. Godfrey, juror for the 

 agricultural machinery section of the International Exhibi- 

 MiSCellaneOUS tion at Milan, are quoted in the Board of Trade Journal, 

 Notes. ^th July, 1907. In regard to heavy articles such as steam 



engines and threshing machines, Mr. Godfrey observes that 

 solidity and durability are essential. In these cases the question of draught is not so 

 important because the engine is available for transportation. The heavy hay crops 

 of Italy necessitate a substantial build in hay-making machinery and rakes ; here the 

 desideratum is strength and durability combined. On the other hand, in descriptions 

 of implements such as ploughs, drills and harvesters, lightness of draught and 

 cheapness of cost are all important. It is also important that agricultural machinery 

 should be exported in large quantities at a time. If truck loads are sent not so 

 much packing is necessary, and it should be remembered that freight and duty have 

 to be paid on the packing as well as on the machines. Possibly more co-operation 

 between British exporters might lead to economy in forwarding goods to the same 

 country. Mr. Godfrey also makes a number of recommendations as to the class of 

 ploughs and harvesters which are most suitable. 



Agricultiiral Machinery in Turkey. — According to the "Frankfurter Zeitung " 

 of 18th September, a project is now before the Government in Constantinople for the 

 establishment of depots for agricultural implements and machines, which are to be 

 bought abroad, at the estimated cost of 100,000 francs, but with the stipulation that 

 payment shall stand over for a considerable period, possibly three years, so that the 

 conditions under which these implements and machines are presented to the agricul- 

 turists may be as favourable as possible. {Board of Trade Journal, 26th September, 

 1907.) 



Agricultural Machinery Bureau at St. Petersburg.— deferring to the recent 

 opening of a bureau under the Board of Agriculture in St. Petersburg, for studying 

 the improvement of agrarian machinery, the "Commercial and Industrial Gazette " 

 (St. Petersburg) states that the number of houses interested in this branch of trade is 

 considerable, but no office existed hitherto which could give attention to spreading the 

 use of improved machinery among the people. The new bureau is managed by 

 Russian agricultural experts in connexion with the Agricultural Museum and various 

 testing stations. This bureau is in touch also with other institutions of a like nature 

 abroad, and it is ready to receive every kind of information about agricultural 

 machinery, including catalogues and price lists. {Board of Trade Journal, 

 3rd October, 1907.) 



Demand for Apples in Norway. — The British Vice-Consul at Bergen (Mr. E. F. 

 Gray) has forwarded a list of some of the fruit dealers at Bergen, which may be of 

 interest to British fruit exporters in view of the scarcity of apples that is reported to 

 exist this year on, the west coast of Norway. The list may be seen by British fruit 

 exporters at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade, 73, 

 Basinghall Street, E.C. {Board of Trade Journal, 12th September, 1907.) 



Legislation as to Plant Diseases in the Colonies. — The regulations controlling the 

 introduction of fruit, plants, &c, into the State of the Commonwealth of Australia, 

 New Zealand and South Africa are given in the Agricultural Gazette of New South 

 Wales, 2nd July, 1907, which is filed in the Library of the Board. 



Fertilisers and Feeding Stufs {General) Regulations, 1907. — The regulations of 

 which notice was given in this Jotirnal (September, 1907, p. 371) were signed and 

 sealed on the 18th September last, and will come into force on the 1st January, 1908. 



Rabies in Massachusetts. — Rabies was very prevalent in the State of Massachusetts 

 in 1906, 327 cases in dogs being confirmed in the eleven months ending 

 30th November, in addition to 38 cattle and 6 horses. Dogs which have been 

 exposed to bites of rabid dogs are quarantined for 90 1 days, but it is found that this 

 period is insufficient. Three cases have occurred during the past year where dogs 

 have gone from four to five months before showing symptoms ; all of them were in 



