948 



Miscellaneous Notes. [march, 



MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



Nitrate of Lime. — Nitrate of lime, manufactured by the Birkeland-Eyde 

 process, to which reference has been made in previous issues of this Journal 

 (Dec, 1906, p. 598 ; Dec, 1907, p. 694), is now being produced on a commercial 

 scale at the works at Notodden. The present output, which is likely to be 

 increased shortly, is stated to be 20,000 tons annually. It contains about 13 

 per cent, of nitrogen and 25-30 per cent, of lime, soluble in water. It may be 

 used as a substitute for nitrate of soda and applied as a top-dressing, or part 

 may be ploughed in at the time of sowing. 



Up to the present, it has not been tested to any extent in this country, but 

 in the few experiments which have been carried out to compare its action with 

 other nitrogenous manures, the results appear to be satisfactory. 



Demand for Agricultural Machinery in Natal. — The Natal Mercury of 

 December 19, 1908, in an article on the increasing use of agricultural 

 machinery in the Colony, remarks : — " It appears to be assured that a wide 

 stimulation of agricultural activity is taking place all over South Africa, but 

 particularly in Natal and the adjoining districts of the interior. . . . Agri- 

 culture is being conducted with more enterprise and on more up-to-date lines 

 than has ever been known before. There are many signs which go to show 

 that this is the case, but probably no more conclusive evidence could be forth- 

 coming on the subject than the extent to which agricultural implements and 

 labour-saving appliances are being purchased and brought into use by the 

 farmers. Inquiries made in the best-informed quarters all confirm that this 

 movement is making headway, and the local agents for farming machinery of 

 various kinds are especially sanguine of a large extension of their business in 

 the near future. They declare that the agricultural industry has entered upon 

 a permanent phase of progressive growth in Natal, and point to the fact that 

 within the last two years the demand for machinery and implements has in- 

 creased very largely." (Board of Trade Journal, Jan. 21, 1909). 



Export of Wheat from South Australia. — Among the recommendations made 

 by the South Australian Royal Commission on the Marketing of Wheat are : 

 (a) that an experiment in the bulk shipment of grain be conducted during the 

 present year (1909) ; (b) that the Government, for experimental purposes, under- 

 take the shipment of grain for farmers through the Produce Dep6t, in the 

 same way that lambs and other produce are dealt with ; and (c) that parcels 

 of wheat above the fair average quality standard be forwarded to Europe for 

 experimental market purposes. (Board of Trade Journal, Jan. 21, 1909). 



Encouragement to Agriculture in Panama. — H.M. Minister at Panama re- 

 ports that the National Assembly of the Republic have voted a sum of ^2,000 

 for the purpose of establishing small foreign labouring colonies in the provinces 

 of the Republic which offer the most advantages for immediate development, 

 and it is the intention of the Government to encourage Spanish emigrants to 

 settle there. The Assembly have also voted a sum of ^50 to be expended on 

 "foreign agricultural publications of recognised utility," which are to be dis- 

 tributed among the principal farmers and agriculturists in the country. A sum 

 of £100 has been voted for the purchase and distribution of grass and grain 

 seeds, and an additional sum of £800 is assigned for the purchase and free 

 distribution among the poor agriculturists of light labour-saving machinery 

 of a kind adaptable to their work, such as mills to shell corn, light ploughs, 

 and agricultural implements in general. (Board of Trade Journal, Jan. 21, 

 1909). 



