5 16 Notes on Agriculture Abroad. [sept., 



have been started in various districts throughout the country (F.O. 

 Reports, Annual Series, No. 4726). 



Establishment of a Service for the Inspection of Plant Diseases in 

 France. — A Presidential Decree was issued on May 1st, 191 1, under 

 powers conferred by an Act of December 16th, 19 10, creating a service 

 for the inspection of plant diseases in France. The service will have 

 two sections — entomological and cryptogamic — and will be under the 

 direction of the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance. Inspection will be 

 conducted by travelling inspectors on the application of horticulturists 

 to the Ministry of Agriculture, and certificates as to freedom from 

 diseases will be issued if the result of the inspection is satisfactory. 

 No responsibility, however, will be undertaken by the service for the 

 acceptance by foreign countries of consignments accompanied by such 

 certificates. The expenses of inspection will be repayable by the hor- 

 ticulturists, whether such certificate has been granted or not, partly 

 by a fixed annual charge of £1 for every plantation under inspection, 

 and the deficit remaining will be covered by a charge in proportion 

 to the market value of the produce in respect of which an application 

 for certification has been made. In the absence of information neces- 

 sary to calculate such charge, the contributions of horticulturists will 

 be fixed by the Ministry of Agriculture. (Journal Officiel, May 13th, 

 1911O 



Proposed Standard for Roumanian Wheat. — The following informa- 

 tion is from the report by H.M. Consul at Bucharest (Mr. E. Mac- 

 Donell) on the trade of that district in 19 10 : — 



Owing to the fact that large quantities of Roumanian wheat are 

 annually shipped to Rotterdam and Antwerp, where they are mixed 

 with Russian, Hungarian, and Bulgarian wheat of inferior quality, 

 and subsequently sold on the British market under the name of Danu- 

 bian wheat, the local merchants and exporters have decided to hold a 

 conference in London with the object of establishing a standard for 

 Roumanian wheat. It is maintained that if pure Roumanian 

 wheat were sent direct to the British market it would com- 

 mand higher prices owing to its quality, and the intermediate 

 profits of the Rotterdam and Antwerp merchants would be divided 

 between the British and Roumanian principals. It is expected that 

 this conference will take place in London during 191 1. (Board of 

 Trade Journal, June 8th, 191 1.) 



Progress of Agriculture in Greece. — Much benefit is expected from 

 improved administration of agricultural affairs in Greece. A Ministry 

 of Agriculture and Commerce was recently established, and agriculture 

 is being benefited also by the work of the Agricultural Society of 

 Greece. To improve the native breed of horses, stallions belonging to 

 this society have been stationed at different centres throughout the 

 country; agricultural experimental stations have been established; a 

 programme has been arranged for having the rudiments of agriculture 

 taught in the village elementary schools; and the spraying of vines, 

 &c, for protection against mildew is being promoted by the sale, at a 

 low price, of high-class British sulphate of copper, the distribution being 

 done through the medium of the monopoly offices throughout the 

 country (F.O. Reports, Annual Series, No. 4750). 



Forest Reserves in Canada. — Under the Dominion Forest Reserves 



