;;8 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[JAN., 



Injury to Plants by Fumes from Factory Chimneys. — The growth of plants 

 and trees is frequently injuriously affected in the neighbourhood of works where 

 large quantities of coal are burnt, or where certain processes are carried on 

 which result in the production of sulphuric acid and other gases. The Ministry 

 of Finance for the Kingdom of Saxony has, therefore, offered two prizes, one 

 of ;£ioo for the best summary of the literature on the subject, with the 

 proposals which have been made, and the other of ^500 for the discovery 

 of a means of dealing with these injurious gases applicable to ordinary 

 industrial conditions. The second prize would be subject to a two years' 

 practical trial. The patent rights of the discovery would remain in the hands 

 of the inventor. Further particulars are given in the " Landw. Versuchs- 

 Stationen," Vol. lxix., parts 3 and 4. 



Demand for Superphosphates in Italy. — H.M. Consul at Venice reports 

 that the demand for British superphosphates and slag is increasing in Italy, as 

 they are highly esteemed by wealthy landowners. There has been a great 

 development in the constitution of agricultural committees or syndicates, and 

 large sums of money are yearly expended by them in purchasing goods and 

 distributing them to the landowners or tenants who are members of the union. 

 (Board of Trade Journal, October 15, 1908.) 



Demand for Agricultural Machinery in Colombia. — From an article published 

 in the October issue of La Colombie (Brussels), it appears that there is a 

 steadily increasing demand among the farmers in Colombia for agricultural 

 machinery. There is, according to that publication, a considerable business to 

 be done in ploughs, rakes, sowing and other agricultural and harvesting 

 machines. A decided preference is shown for implements of simple construction 

 but of good quality, for which good prices can be obtained. (Board of Trade 

 Journal, October 15, 1908.) 



Proposed Floating Agricultural Machinery Exhibition for Siberia. — The 

 Journal de St. Petersbourg of 5th October reports that a project is on foot 

 for fitting out a floating agricultural machinery exhibition for Siberia. The 

 exhibits would be grouped on boats which during their course down the river 

 Yenesei would stop at the principal towns, where the exhibitors would show 

 new types of agricultural machines. (Board of Trade Journal, October 15, 

 1908.) 



Grain Trade of Odessa. — H.M. Consul-General at Odessa (Mr. C. S. 

 Smith) in his report on the trade of that Consular District for 1907 (Foreign 

 Office Reports, Annual Series, No. 4,138) draws attention to the changed 

 methods which now prevail in the grain export trade. Mr. Smith cautions 

 traders to deal only with firms of well-established character, and also refers to 

 the proposals in connection with the new Odessa grain harbour, and the 

 introduction of grain certificates. 



Importation of Fertilisers into Norway. — The British Vice-Consul at Bergen 

 (Mr. E. F. Gray) reports that the importation of artificial manures into 

 Norway is steadily increasing, having risen from 5,716 tons in 1890 to 18,777 

 tons in 1900, while in 1907 it amounted to 45,682 tons (chiefly basic slag), 

 valued at over ^105, 000. This increase is believed to be due to the advance 

 of agriculture and the adoption of more intensive methods of cultivation. 

 (Board of Trade Journal, December 3, 1908.) 



Poultry Exhibition at Paris. — The French Journal Official of 20th November 

 contains a Presidential Decree, dated 16th November, which constitutes as a 

 Customs warehouse the grounds of the International Exhibition of Aviculture, 

 to be held at the Cours-la-Reine, Paris, from 4th to 10th February, 1909. 

 Articles intended for exhibition there may be forwarded through to their 

 destination under international or ordinary transit regulations without Customs 

 examination at the frontier. 



