87 4 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



[FEB., 



ment in Sussex on account of an excessive supply, but regular work was found 

 for many men, principally at threshing and wood-cutting. There was generally 

 some surplus of day labourers in Hampshire and Berkshire, and certain corre- 

 spondents refer to the number in irregular employment as being rather greater 

 than usual for the time of the year. There was a moderate demand for day 

 labourers in Wiltshire on account of threshing, hedging, ditching, manure- 

 carting, &c, but a number of day labourers were unable to get regular work, 

 while unfavourable weather somewhat interfered with the employment of this 

 class of labour. Work was reported as well forward in Dorset, and there 

 was consequently not much demand for extra labourers. Frost somewhat 

 hindered farming operations in Somerset, but not many men were reported 

 in irregular work throughout the month. In Herefordshire, except for a few 

 days when severe weather interrupted work, the supply of and demand for 

 day labourers were generally about equal ; some scarcity of men for permanent 

 situations, however, was reported. Several day labourers were in irregular 

 employment in certain districts of Gloucestershire owing to an insufficient 

 demand for their services. A scarcity of men for milking is reported from the 

 Chipping Sodbury and Dursley Unions. Work on the land was interfered 

 with in some districts of Devonshire by frost and snow at the end of January, 

 and some day labourers lost time in consequence. Regularity of employment 

 is reported from Cornwall, the supply of day labourers being about equal to 

 the demand. 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



Unthriftiness in Geese. — Mr. Edward Brown, Lecturer in Aviculture at 

 University College, Reading, has supplied the Board with the following notes 

 on the subject of geese " going light " : — 



" Going light " may be due to general debility or unfavourable conditions. 

 In a very dry summer geese on the higher lands, where there is very little in 

 the way of herbage, often suffer from this cause, and it would appear to be a 

 lung trouble aggravated by an excessively dry situation. It must be remem- 

 bered that geese are by nature grass eaters, and where they are unable to 

 obtain a sufficient supply they are subject to affections of this kind. The treat- 

 ment necessary is to remove them on to lower-lying lands where the grass is 

 more abundant. This is a question which breeders of geese must constantly 

 bear in mind, but the trouble is more especially found in dry seasons. 



Importation of Bulbs into Bermuda. — According to Amended Regulations 

 made by the Board of Agriculture of Bermuda, and dated 12th Jan., 1901, Lily, 

 Hyacinth, and Narcissus bulbs imported into Bermuda will not be delivered 

 without the authority of the Superintendent of the Botanic Station, who will 

 take and retain control of consignments for not less than four days for such 

 inspection and treatment as may appear to him to be expedient. Consignees of 

 imported bulbs are to notify the Superintendent as early as practicable. The 

 owner or consignee of any bulbs which have been treated is required to pay 

 the expenses incurred. All bulbs which, in the opinion of the Superintendent, 

 are diseased, and which he thinks might be injurious to the Lily industry, are 

 to be destroyed. 



Manufacture of Peat Fuel. — Many processes have been invented for the 

 manufacture of peat by machinery, and a number of systems are now in use 

 on the Continent. Usually the peat is dug out mechanically and passed 

 through what may be called large mincing machines. As the pulp is forced 

 out through a mouthpiece, it is cut off in blocks and afterwards dried. About 

 two tons of this improved peat is equal to one ton of coal. 



Attempts have been made to manufacture briquettes from peat alone of 

 equal calorific power with that of coal. Little success seems to have at- 



