88 



" Canker " on Willows. 



of dogs, and it has been stated that not only are dogs sub- 

 jected to cruelty and unnecessary suffering owing to the want 

 of pen accommodation set apart for dogs at railway stations 

 and the ill-ventilated and badly lighted condition of the 

 boxes or kennels provided in railway carriages and vans, but 

 further that distemper and other contagious diseases are 

 spread amongst dogs by reason of the failure to cleanse and 

 disinfect the pens and kennels with efficiency. 



" The Board think that such evils as may exist might be 

 corrected by the voluntary action of the Railway Companies 

 themselves rather than by action on the part of either Parlia- 

 ment or of the Board, and they would therefore be glad if the 

 matter might receive the consideration of your Company, 

 with a view to the improvement of accommodation and 

 facilities provided tor the purpose in question and the 

 avoidance of complaints such as those which have been made. 



" I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 



" T. H. Elliott, Secretary." 



Sale of Butter Regulations, 1902. 



The Board of Agriculture, in exercise of the powers con- 

 ferred on them by section 4 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 

 1899, made, on the 22nd of April, 1902, the following regula- 

 tions with regard to water in butter : — 



" Where the proportion of water in a sample of butter 

 exceeds 1-6 per cent, it shall be presumed for the purposes of 

 the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 1875 to 1899, until the 

 contrary is proved, that the butter is not genuine by reason 

 of the excessive amount of water therein." 



These regulations, which extend to Great Britain, came 

 into operation on the 5th of May, 1902. 



" Canker "on Willows. 



Specimens of diseased willows forwarded to the Board 

 from Lincolnshire were found upon examination % to be 

 affected by a " canker " caused by the fungus Melampsora 

 Alii-fragilis (Kleb.). 



