1908.] Miscellaneous Notes. 383 



trade, but is intended to foster the formation of trading associations and to popularize 

 and to advocate the idea of a better organisation of the manufacturing and commercial 

 side of agricultural work. Leaving to other agencies the furthering of other agricul- 

 tural interests, it concentrates its efforts on the development and application of the 

 principle of combined action in agriculture. During the two years it has been in 

 existence 17 local societies have been formed, three of which are dairy associations. 



Six Months' Eg^- Laying Competition. — The Street and District Collecting Depot 

 proposes to hold a six months' laying competition from 1st October, 1908, to 31st March, 

 1909. The pens admitted to the competition will consist of six pullets of one breed, 

 hatched not earlier than January last, and the pen producing the greatest value in 

 €ggs during the six months will be adjudged the winner. The eggs will be valued at 

 certain fixed prices per dozen, varying according to season ; all eggs will be weighed, 

 and each \\ lb. will be calculated as one dozen. Each pen will be housed in a 

 separate scratching shed, and will have a grass run not less than 120 square yards. 



Agricultural Machinery in Russia. — The acting British Consul at St. Petersburg 

 {Mr. C. H. Mackie), reporting on the agricultural machinery trade in Russia, states 

 that the provincial associations for the co-operative purchase and sale of agricultural 

 machinery and implements are continuing to extend their operations, and that 

 German manufacturers and British firms, the latter to a less degree, have been able 

 to secure a fair amount of business. The total amount of such machinery and imple- 

 ments imported into Russia in 1907 from all countries amounted to £1,835,368, an 

 increase of £197,158 over that of 1906. The imports from Germany during the same 

 period amounted to £672,637, or over one-third of the whole trade, and were, more- 

 over, in excess of the imports from that country in 1906 by ,£208,532. The imports 

 from the United Kingdom amounted to £240,947, an increase over those of the 

 previous year of £63,684. It is gratifying to see from the latter figures, remarks 

 Mr. Mackie, that British manufacturers of this class of machinery have not neglected 

 the Russian market, and it is to be hoped that with increased activity they will further 

 extend their business, as the superiority of British makes is fully appreciated through- 

 out that country. It should be borne in mind by British manufacturers that many 

 kinds of agricultural machinery are exempt from import duty in Russia. {Board of 

 Trade Journal, 1 6th July, 1908.) 



Destruction of Rats. — In order to obtain accurate information regarding the nature 

 and extent of the damage done by rats within the United Kingdom, the Incorporated 

 Society for the Destruction of Vermin have prepared a schedule of questions which 

 they desire to place into the hands of all those who are in a position, from their own 

 experience, to give information concerning temporary or permanent rat plngues in 

 their districts, the damage inflicted by rats, the steps taken by them — individually or 

 in co-operation with others — for preventing such damage, the means chosen for that 

 purpose, and the results obtained. The Committee of the Society hope that those 

 interested will apply for a copy of the schedule, which may be obtained from the 

 Secretary of the Society, 95, Wigmore Street, London, W. 



International Congress on Refrigeration. — An International Congress of the Cold 

 Storage Industry will be held at Paris from the 5th to 10th October next, under the 

 patronage of the French Minister of Agriculture and other members of the Cabinet. 

 A grant of £1,600 has been made- by the French Government for the organization of 

 this Congress. The programme deals with the following points : (1) Low temperatures 

 and their effects, hygiene, &c; (2) Cold storage machinery ; (3) Application of cold 

 storage to food products ; (4) Refrigeration, Sec, in other industries ; (5) Refrigeration 

 applied to the transport of food, &c. ; (6) Legislation. The subscription to the 

 Congress is fixed at 20 francs. 



Agricultural Organisation Society. — The Annual Report of the Agricultural 

 Organisation Society for the year 1907 showed that the number of affiliated societies 

 increased from 137 at the end of 1906 to 167 at the end of 1907, while the member- 

 ship increased from 8,700 to 10,500. A very marked increase took place in the 

 business done by the societies, the aggregate turnover having risen from £375,000 in 



