5io Scholarships in Agricultural Science, [sept., 



where filtration is usually ineffective. This effect was demonstrated with 

 Morgan Sweet apples, one of the most difficult varieties to deal with 

 on account of rapid fermentation. 



Sulphuring. — The effect of sulphuring has been elucidated in three 

 directions, its action in checking fermentation, and in weeding out the 

 organisms present, with the suppression of undesirable yeasts, acetic 

 bacteria, and the bacilli of cider sickness. From these investigations it 

 is concluded that sulphuring should not be considered a satisfactory 

 practice for the preparation of sweet cider, since, if fermentation is 

 to be checked sufficiently and not merely temporarily, an objectionably 

 heavy dose is necessary in the case of rapidly fermenting juices, and in 

 the case of juices with slower rates of fermentation there are other 

 and less questionable means of checking fermentation. There are, how- 

 ever, possibilities in other directions in favour of a light sulphuring 

 of the fresh juices. A purer type of fermentation, and therefore a 

 superior product, may be found to result, and considerable assistance 

 in the natural clarification of the ciders may be obtained. 



Blossoming and Pollination of Fruit (Cecil H. Hooper, Jour. Roy. 

 Hort. Soc, Vol. 36, Pt. III., May, 191 1). — This paper contains notes 

 made at Wye, Kent, on the date and duration of blossoming of nuts, 

 fruit trees, and small fruit in 1908-10, and on the sterility or fertility 

 of varieties when self-fertilised, and the part played by insects in pollina- 

 tion. Most of the substance was included in the articles on the subjects 

 in this Journal for December, 1908, p. 678; April, 1910, p, 32; and 

 April, 191 1, p. 24, the dates of flowering in 1910 being added. 



OFFICIAL NOTICES AND CIRCULARS. 



A Departmental Committee was appointed by the Secretary for 

 Scotland and the President of the Board of Agriculture in June, 1910, 

 to inquire into the present system of striking 

 .Report ot the Fiars Prices in Scotland> and to report whether 



Committee on the procedure of Fiars Courts can be amended 

 Fiars Prices. SQ as tQ ensure t h at t h e annual value of corn 



and other produce shall be ascertained on a more uniform basis and 

 with greater accuracy; and, if so, what are the best means of attaining 

 that object. 



The Report of this Committee (Cd. 5763 ; price i\d.) has now been 

 published, and contains the recommendations of the Committee on the 

 subject. 



These scholarships have been established by the Board of Agricul- 

 ture and Fisheries in order to train promising students under suitable 

 supervision, with a view to their contributing 

 , 1 SG V° • to the development of agriculture, either by 



Scholarships m carry i n g 0 ut independent research, or by acting 

 Agricultural Science. in an advisory capa city to agriculturists. They 

 will be granted only to students who show distinct promise of capacity 

 for advanced study and research in some one of the sciences bearing on 

 agriculture. 



