630 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[JAN., 



Importation of Seeds and Plants into Portugal. — The Board are informed that 

 plants and shrubs for importation into Portugal must be accompanied by a certificate 

 of origin, duly legalised, certifying that the locality from 



Miscellaneous Notes. which they come is free from ^ Hoxera in either a s P oradic 



or epidemic form. Such a certificate, however, is not 

 requisite in the case of seeds. 



"Bolting" in Turnips, 6°r. — Premature running to seed, or "bolting," in 

 turnips, carrots, cabbages, &c, was extremely common last year, more especially 

 in Scotland. It is the result of a check, followed by conditions very favourable to 

 growth. The check may be due to drought, cold, &c. ; and there is no proved 

 connection between the quality of the seed and "bolting." There was some fine 

 growing weather in July, and then a cold, wet August, during which the tendency to 

 seed developed. This tendency seemed to be increased by the subsequent fine 

 weather in September. 



Destruction of the Fruit Fly in Bermuda. — The Board have received through the 

 Colonial Office a report on the work carried out in Bermuda under the Fruit Fly 

 Destruction Act, 1907, with a view to the eradication of the Mediterranean fruit fly 

 {Ceratitis capitata). The propagation of the species, it may be noted, depends on 

 the mature female fly finding suitable fruit in which to lay eggs. If the eggs are 

 deposited in fruit that is too young, the maggots hatch before the fruit is in a condi- 

 tion to serve as food, while if it is too ripe the maggots also fail to survive, as it 

 needs for its development the interior of a growing fruit. The plan adopted, there- 

 fore, was to destroy all the mature fruit of the kinds known to be attacked throughout 

 the island. Where trees bearing a large number of small fruit were too numerous, 

 they were pruned back to prevent them producing fruit in the next season. The 

 fruits were collected in sacks, and either burnt, boiled or thrown into the sea. Very 

 little opposition was offered by owners of fruit trees, and the result obtained after one 

 season's work was very satisfactory. Comparatively few flies were found, and confi- 

 dence was expressed in the possibility of exterminating the pest. 



Exp07-ts of Agricultural Produce from Brittany. — Referring to the establishment 

 of the new Brest-Plymouth steamship service, the British Vice-Consul at Brest 

 (Mr. S. S. Dickson) draws attention, in a recent despatch, to the opportunities for 

 trade which this new service has been the means of creating. He remarks that the 

 Department of Finistere, not to speak of the rest of Brittany, is specially adapted for 

 agricultural and farm produce. Isolated, however, from the main lines of commercial 

 enterprise, the extent of its resources has not, so far, been realised, and it remains a 

 negligible quantity as an exporter of farm produce. Lack of organisation it appears 

 is the immediate cause, but this is subsidiary to the real cause, which is isolation from 

 the only possible market. The produce of Finistere is not in demand in the neigh- 

 bouring departments, which supply more than sufficient for their own needs. The 

 market of Great'Britain has hithterto been inaccessible owing to the want of a suitable 

 means of transport. This difficulty has now been overcome by the opening of the 

 new Plymouth- Brest route. {Board of Trade Journal, 14th November, 1907.) 



Trimming of Hedges. — In the article on the subject of "Fences and Hedges," 

 which appeared in this Journal for May, 1 905, no reference was made to the best 

 time for pruning hedges. Hedges which are well cared for and regularly dealt with 

 may be trimmed in January or February if they are in exposed situations, or at any 

 time during the season from August to February if sheltered. In the case of 

 neglected hedges, however, hard pruning is required, and they should be taken in 

 hand in autumn in ordinary situations in the Eastern Counties, or in early spring in 

 cold, exposed positions. The whitethorn is very hardy, but may suffer if severe frost 

 follows soon after pruning. 



Dewponds. — A writer in the Estate Magazine (November, 1907) compares the 

 construction of dewponds, or " meres " as they are called, in the Peak of Derbyshire 

 with those made elsewhere. {See Journal, November, 1907, p. 498, and June, 1906 



