191 1.] Circular Letter as to Swine-Fever. 603 



Chretien, were planted on four plots undergoing different manurial 

 treatment. The plots were manured primarily for the vegetable crops 

 to be grown on them, four different classes of manure being used. 

 In other respects the treatment of the trees has been equal. The total 

 crops produced by each pair of trees with a different manurial treat- 

 ment have been as follows, for ten years ending 19 10 in the case 

 of apples and seven years ending 19 10 in that of pears : — 



Apples. Pears, 



lb. lb. ' 



Garden refuse 583 (2nd quality) 121 (2nd quality) 



Stable manure 734 (ist ) 367 (1st ,,' ) 



Inorganic chemicals ... ... 358 (3rd ) 167 (3rd ,, ) 



Inorganic chemicals and 



stable manure 905 (extra fine quality) 279 (ist ) 



Pruning of Gooseberries (National Fruit and Cider Institute, Report, 

 1910). — The experiments on "light" and "hard" pruning have now 

 been brought to a conclusion on account of overcrowding by the apple 

 and pear bushes among which the gooseberries were interplanted. The 

 bushes were planted in 1905, and have been pruned since 1908 on the 

 two systems, before 1908 all being pruned on the "hard" system. In 

 the "hard" system, which is usual outside fruit-growing areas, the 

 leading shoots are clipped back fairly hard, and the laterals still 

 harder, so that the bush becomes round and dense. In the "light" 

 system the leading shoots are not cut back so closely, while the laterals 

 are more reduced than in the other system. The result is a com- 

 paratively straggling and open bush. Ease and economy of time in 

 gathering the fruit and an improved quality of berry are the advantages 

 claimed for the " light " system. The effect on the crop is disputed, 

 and this experiment is intended to deal with the point. The results 

 cover a period of three years, and the total yield in that time was 

 2 )395 lb. from the "light'! pruned bushes and 1,988 from the others. 

 Considering the varieties separately the advantage of " light " pruning 

 was most striking in the case of Crown Bob and Whinham's Industry, 

 less so with Lancashire Lad, while Keepsake gave practically equal 

 results with the two methods. Unless considerations of space necessi- 

 tate the restriction in size of the bushes, the "light" system of pruning 

 appears to be undoubtedly preferable. 



OFFICIAL NOTICES AND CIRCULARS. 



The following circular letter, dated September 4th last, has been 

 addressed to Local Authorities in Great Britain under the Diseases 

 of Animals Acts, 1894 to 191 1 : — 

 Circular Letter Sir, — I am directed by the Board of Agri- 



as ^° culture and Fisheries to send to you, for sub- 



Swine-Fever. mission to your Local Authority, the enclosed 



copy of the Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on Swine- 

 Fever, together with copies of an Order which has been made by the 

 Board giving effect to certain Recommendations made by the Com- 

 mittee. A notice requiring the publication of the Order in the District 

 of your Local Authority is also sent herewith. 



2. The Order will come into operation on the ist prox., and carries, 

 out Recommendations Nos. (iv), (v), and (vi) of the Committee as to (a) 



