I9Q9-] 



Miscellaneous Notes. 



949 



Supply of Phosphates in Natal— At a meeting of the Weenen Agricultural 

 Society, some very rich samples of phosphates of lime recently discovered near 

 Weenen, in Natal, were exhibited. Particular attention was paid to the occur- 

 rence of the phosphates in nodular form, samples of which assayed from 85 

 to 92 per cent. There were also samples of the vein matter ranging from 54 

 to 65 per cent. It was pointed out that, at the present time, agriculturists 

 were^ paying about five guineas per ton at Durban for imported phosphates 

 ranging from 37! to 40 per cent., and that before these phosphates were de- 

 posited upon the ground the cost reached about £& per ton. It was estimated 

 that the crude phosphate, in powdered form, could be supplied free on rail 

 at Weenen station at £2 per ton, whife the superphosphate from the same 

 material could be sold at £3 per ton. The available supply of phosphate in 

 Weenen County is estimated at 100 tons per day for fifty years, or more than 

 a million and a half tons. (Board of Trade Journal, Feb. 4, 1909.) 



Commission on Hop Industry in Bavaria.— -The British Vice-Consul at 

 Nuremberg (Mr. S. Ehrenbacher) reports that, at the instigation of the 

 Deutscher Hopfenbauverein (German Hop-Growers' Association), a Hop Com- 

 mission will sit in Munich towards the end of February or early in March 

 to consider the present state of hop-growing in Bavaria. (Board of Trade 

 Journal, Feb. 4, 1909). 



Importation of Artificial Manures into Russia. — The British Vice-Consul 

 at Reval reports that the imports of artificial manures into that port have 

 shown an upward tendency for several years, the figures for the last two years 

 being 413,558 pouds and 509,622 pouds respectively. They consisted chiefly of 

 nitrate of soda, kainit, superphosphate, and Thomas-phosphate. Of the total 

 quantity imported in 1907, 84,283 pouds came from the United Kingdom, 

 99,204 pouds from Belgium, and 326,124 pouds from Germany. It was com- 

 posed of 118,061 pouds of nitrate of soda, 177,391 pouds of kainit, 30,672 

 pouds of superphosphate, and 183,487 pouds of Thomas-phosphate, the first 

 three all from Germany and the last from the United Kingdom and Belgium. 

 (Board of Trade Journal, Dec. 31, 1908). 



Timber Resources of New South Wales. — The Pastoralists' Review (Mel- 

 bourne) of 16th November states that, according to the recently published 

 report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the timber resources 

 of New South Wales, the total quantity of commercial timber at present stand- 

 ing in the State, excluding timber growing on private lands, is estimated 

 at 23,116,000,000 superficial feet, consisting of: — Hardwoods: Ironbark, 

 1,355,000,000 superficial ft. ; other hardwoods for milling, 8,668,000,000 super- 

 ficial ft. ; for other purposes, 11,788,000,000 superficial ft. ; total, 21,811,000,000 

 superficial ft. Softwoods : Cedar, 5,000,000 superficial ft. ; hoop pine, 

 230,000,000 superficial ft.; other brushwoods, 150,000,000 superficial ft.; 

 cypress pine, 920,000,000 superficial ft. ; total, 1,305,000,000 superficial ft. 



The Commissioners state that, at the present rate of consumption, the 

 quantity of hardwood timber suitable for commercial purposes, estimated to 

 be at present standing on the forest reserves and other Crown lands of the 

 State, will not last more than about thirty-six years, and that the supply of 

 softwoods will be consumed in a little more than twenty years. Amongst 

 other things, the Commissioners recommend that the present royalties on 

 certain timber should be increased, and that the export of ironbark and tallow- 

 wood beyond the Commonwealth should be prohibited for a period of ten 

 years. Recommendations are also made for the replanting of the most valuable 

 timbers and for the protection of timbers at present standing. (Board of Trade 

 Journal, Dec. 31, 1908). 



Diminution of the Peasant Class in Sweden. — A Commission has been 

 appointed by the Minister of Agriculture in Sweden to examine the question of 



