191 i.J Summary of Agricultural Experiments. 149 
subsequent milkings, it was noticeable that there was no appreciable 
difference in the amount left unmilked at the three milkings. 
To ascertain the influence of the machine on the total milk produc- 
tion, the four cows were milked solely by machine for four and a 
half months. The amount of milk per cow per day obtained during the 
two experimental periods was 9*992 kilog. in the case of hand milking, 
and 10*920 kilog. in the case of mechanical milking. The cows which 
were milked by machine gave therefore a higher yield by about 2 lb. 
Apart from the small number of cows used, the comparison is unequal 
owing to the fact that the machine milking was continue for 4^ 
months, while the hand milking with which the results are compared 
extended over ten days only. 
Weeds and Insect and Fungus Pests. 
Destruction of Thistles (Field Expts. in Staffs and Salop and at 
Harper Adams Agric. Coll., Joint Report, 1910). — These experiments 
were continued in 19 10, and the conclusions stated in the Journal, 
March, 191 1, p. 1,019, were confirmed. 
At the request of the Board of Agriculture a special tool was tried 
on an additional plot. The tool resembled a much elongated pair of 
pliers, the object being to grip the plant and pull up a length of root. 
A comparison was made between the time taken in using the tool and 
cutting with a scythe. With careful use with this tool thistles could 
be pulled out with as much as 4 inches of underground stem attached, 
but in dry weather the plants broke off close to the surface, leaving 
the underground stems to form fresh shoots. The implement was 
tedious to use, and only a small area could be covered in a day. The 
cost worked out as follows : — " Plot A," with special tool. — One acre 
required 10 days' labour at 2s. Sd. per day, equalling jQi 6s. Sd. per 
acre. " Plot B," cutting with scythe. — 1\ acres were cut per day, with 
labour at 2s. Sd. per day, equalling is. gd. per acre. The effect of the 
treatment on these two new plots was not noticeable the first season, 
but will be recorded in 191 1. 
Internal Disease and Sprain (Streak Disease) in Potato (Jour. Agric. 
Science, Vol. III., Pt. 3, September, 1910). — In this paper Mr. A. S, 
Home, B.Sc, describes the symptoms of these two diseases, which 
at present appear to be distinct. It has been stated that if tubers 
affected with them are planted a healthy crop will nevertheless result. 
Experiments to test this point were made, and it was found in the 
case of both internal disease and streak disease that when diseased 
sets were planted a certain proportion of the tubers produced were 
affected. The question of whether the diseases spread during storage 
was also examined. Tubers were cut in half, and some sprinkled with 
lime and some not. Under these conditions the diseases did not 
appear to increase in the affected tubers or to spread to others, but 
the question was complicated by attacks of other diseases. 
A Bacterial Disease of Swedes (Jour, of Agric. Science, Vol. Hi.. 
Pt. 4, December, 1910). — This is a report of an investigation carried 
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