1909.I Foreign and Colonial Office Reports. 501 



ordinary native stock, and breeders are beginning to recognise that it 

 is to their own interest to introduce better blood. (Information as to 

 the opening for the importation of pedigree stock into Brazil appears 

 in the present number of this Journal, p. 485.) 



Milking Machinery in Denmark. — It is stated that interest in prac- 

 tical milking-machinery continues to increase in Denmark. The 

 cost, however, of the actual milking appliances without the motive 

 power appears to be from about £2 15s. 6d. to ^3 12s. per cow for 

 50 cows or over, £2 10s. per cow for 70 cows, and £2 4s. 6d. per cow 

 for any number in excess of the above. Motors of two horse-power are 

 estimated to cost £t> 2 ; three horse-power, ^55. The installation of 

 milking-machines is, therefore, by no means cheap, and will not suit 

 the pocket of the smaller dairyman. 



Several milking-machines have now been introduced. Amongst 

 these, a machine called " Denmark " is described as being a thoroughly 

 efficient machine, though it works on the principle of continuous suction. 

 The actual time taken by the above machine was 20 minutes for 15 lb. 

 of milk. Other machines working by combined pressure and suction 

 occupy, on the average, about eight minutes per cow. 



An Australian milking-machine (the Lawrence-Kennedy-Gillies milk- 

 ing machine) is also reported as having given satisfaction. It is stated 

 that the cows adapt themselves very quickly to the machine, and that 

 no udder disease has been noticed in places where the milker has 

 been employed. — (F. O. Reports, Annual Series, No. 4,277.) 



Agriculture in Egypt.— Demand for Agricultural Machinery. — The 

 Report on the trade of Alexandria (F.O. Reports, Annual Series, No. 

 4,324), contains a note by Mr. W. H. Cadman, B.Sc, F.C.S., on 

 agricultural discoveries and inventions, new methods of agriculture and 

 scientific research in connection with agriculture in Egypt in 1908. 



It is mentioned that steam ploughs are becoming popular, over 150 

 sets of a particular British make having been imported during the past 

 six years, At present the large and more costly engines and agricul- 

 tural implements are only used on the large estates. Progress is slow, 

 not so much on account of the initial expense as of the difficulty of 

 transport and in finding skilled mechanics to operate and repair such 

 machines. The high price of fuel is another drawback, but the recent 

 promising discoveries of oil springs on the shore of the Red Sea may 

 prove the means of a cheap. fuel supply. 



In order to encourage the employment of more modern machinery 

 it has been suggested that the smaller agriculturists of each district 

 should form associations for the purpose of purchasing machinery of 

 which they realise the utility, such as steam engines, grain cleaning, 

 threshing, reaping, and levelling machines, skilled mechanics being 

 engaged to work and look after them. A movement in this direction 

 has already begun in Upper Egypt, the engines and machines being 

 hired by the smaller cultivators. 



Agriculture in Germany. — The Report by Consul-General Sir 

 Francis Oppenheimer on the Trade of the Consular District of Frank- 

 fort (F.O. Reports, Annual Series, No. 4,325) contains information as 

 to the German tariff and its effect on the agricultural industry and prices, 

 the supply of agricultural labour, and other subjects. 



Production of Calcium Cyanamide. — The same Report gives informa- 



