678 



Notes on Agriculture Abroad. [now, 



Consumption of Fertilisers in Russia. — According to a report by 

 the United States Consul at Odessa, the " loess " and black earth soils 

 of southern Russia are showing signs of 

 Notes on exhaustion where they have been cultivated 



Agriculture Abroad, uninterruptedly, and it is probable that re- 

 course will be largely had in the future to 

 artificial manures. The importation of fertilisers has already reached 

 a considerable amount, as is shown in the following table : — 





1907- 

 Ton s. 



1908. 

 Tons. 



1909. 

 Tons. 



Basic slag 

 Superphosphates 

 Potash salts 

 Nitrate of soda ... 



... 72,0C0 



... 44,000 

 ... 20,000 

 ... 17,000 



72,000 

 38,000 

 25,000 

 15,003 



109,000 

 85,000 

 40, 000 

 r7,coo 



It is estimated that the amount of bone meal, superphosphates, and- 

 other fertilisers produced in the country in 1909 was 126,000 tons. 

 The increasing price of fertilisers in the markets of the interior is 

 regarded as evidence of their growing use and popularity. — (U.S. Daily 

 Consular Reports, Vol. I., No. 39.) 



Agricultural Machinery in Egypt. — H.M. Vice-Consul at Alexandria 

 (Mr. E. H. Mulock), in reporting on the trade of that district in 1909 

 (F.O. Reports, Annual Series, No. 4554), draws attention to the fact 

 that considerable progress has been made in the district in the employ- 

 ment of more modern agricultural machinery, such as pumps, grain- 

 cleaning and levelling machines, and there is generally a growing 

 demand for light and simple machinery in almost all processes inci- 

 dental to agriculture. Cheapness and simplicity in the machinery 

 imported are essential, and duplicate parts should be available. Since 

 coal is relatively expensive, oil engines or steam engines up to a 

 certain size with boilers designed for use with oil fuel, would prove 

 most suitable to local conditions. On the large estates the land- 

 owners are showing increased interest in the management of their 

 property. Some have already installed pumping stations of consider- 

 able magnitude for irrigation, and others are looking about for labour- 

 saving machinery to enable them to cultivate large areas to better 

 advantage. The majority of the population, however, depends for its 

 support on small holdings of from ^ acre to 5 acres, and, as the lack 

 of roads prevents co-operation, little use has hitherto been made of 

 agricultural machinery. With the making of good country roads, joint 

 ownership of more expensive machinery will be possible. 



Importation of Frozen Meat into Austria from South America.— 

 As a result of the high prices of meat which have recently been ruling 

 in Austria, it seems possible that, in the immediate future at least, 

 that country will become a competitor for the frozen meat exports 

 of South America. According to dispatches received from H.M. Consul 

 at Trieste, the Austrian Government have decided to send a commis- 

 sion of delegates to South America to study from a commercial, sani- 

 tary, and veterinary point of view the question of the exportation of 

 frozen meat and cattle from Argentina and Uruguay. A temporary 

 "permit" for the importation of 10,000 tons of frozen meat has been 

 granted. 



Opening for Artificial Manures in Russia. — H.M. Consul at Kieff 



