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 1910, 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 £1 6s. Sd. per 

 acre. "Plot B," cutting with scythe. — 1| acres were cut per day, with 

 labour at 2s. Sd. per day, equalling is. qd. per acre. The effect of the 

 treatment on these two new plots was not noticeable the first season, 

 but will be recorded in 19 11. 



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 (Join, of Agric. Science, Vol. Hi.. 

 Pt. 4, December, 1910). — This is a report of an investigation carried 



