872 



Notes on Agriculture Abroad. 



[JAN., 



It is suggested by Dr. Moller that the relatively small, cost which 

 would be incurred by the destruction of the flies should be wholly 

 or partly borne by the State. The method of destruction proposed con- 

 sists in the appointment of experts whose duty it should be to free 

 cattle from flies in certain districts during specified months of the year. 

 Experiments with smearing animals with different preparations have 

 not given good results in Germany, but the satisfactory extraction of 

 the maggots is not an easy matter for the average farmer. Squeezing 

 the maggots out of the ripe warbles with the hand is considered the 

 most effective method of treatment, but there is some difficulty in 

 determining the proper time for this treatment. If undertaken before 

 the warbles are properly ripe, it is ineffective and causes much pain 

 to the animals. The discharge of matter from the warble is usually 

 indicative of ripeness, but, even so, experience is needed to determine 

 the proper time of treatment. This experience is not easily acquired by 

 farmers, and the appointment of persons who would devote themselves 

 entirely to the work is therefore advocated. 



Measures similar to those just outlined have been adopted in Den- 

 mark with excellent results (see Journal, November, 1910, p. 659). The 

 cost of treatment in that country is less than \&. per head of cattle, 

 but it is computed that, for the first year at any rate, in Germany an 

 expenditure of 4a 1 . per head of cattle would have to be incurred. The 

 need for this larger amount is based on the assumption that very 

 thorough measures would at first have to be taken if any degree of 

 success is to be realised, but the cost would decrease in succeeding 

 years. 



Demand for Artificial Manures in Japan. — In consequence of the 

 increasing requirements of Europe and the United States for soy bean 

 cake as a feeding stuff, there have been marked decreases in the imports 

 of the cake into Japan, where it is used as a manure. Partly as a 

 result of this there is at the present time an increasing demand for 

 sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, and phosphates in Japan. The 

 imports of sulphate of ammonia in 1910 were 69,000 tons, valued at 

 ^925,500, as compared with 46,000 tons in 1909 and 66,000 tons in 

 1908. This manure is obtained almost entirely from the United King- 

 dom, 57,000 tons of the 69,000 tons imported in 1910 coming from this 

 country. It is stated that sulphate of ammonia will always be required 

 for wet land cultivation, i.e., for such crops as rice and the rush used 

 for making matting. 



Nitrate of soda, on the other hand, being essentially a manure for 

 dry land cultivation is used in Japan for mulberry, tobacco, tea, wheat, 

 barley, rye, indigo, and vegetables. The imports of this manure rose 

 from 6,000 tons in 1909 to 14,000 tons in 19 10. Phosphates increased 

 in the same period from 70,000 tons to 167,000 tons. 



The total import of manures is valued at ^3,869,000, and the home 

 production of artificial fertilisers at ^3,023,000. It is estimated that if 

 the value of the other manures used is added the total annual con- 

 sumption would probably amount to ^17,000,000. (F.O. Reports, 

 Annual Series, No. 4768.) 



Opening for Compressed Fodder in India. — According to an article in 

 the Agricultural Journal of India for October, 191 1, there is a great 



