GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



[June 1896. 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 

 Tar-Branding of Sheep. 



The Board of Agriculture have received communications from 

 theHalifax and Huddersfield Chambers of Commerce, intimating 

 that local representations have been made by wool spinners and 

 manufacturers as to the inconveniences resulting from the 

 branding of sheep with tar and similar substances. It is repre- 

 sented that a large quantity of wool used in the manufacture of 

 carpets and similar productions does not undergo the process of 

 sorting, and thus it frequently happens that, in spite of endea- 

 vours to take out tar-marked wool, the tar-marks pass through 

 the various stages into the finished goods, thereby causing 

 considerable damage and loss. It has been suggested that if 

 flock-masters and others were made generally aware of the fact 

 that tar is not dissolved in the ordinary processes of wool- 

 washing, discussion might be usefully elicited as to whether, 

 with a due regard to the interests of sheep farmers, it would be 

 possible, in any cases, to limit the present use of tar in marking 

 sheep. 



The feasibility of effecting any improvement in the methods 

 of application, either by making the branding irons smaller, or 

 by more careful mixing, to prevent the tar from running, may 

 also be a matter not unworthy of consideration by practical 

 wool growers. 



French Imports of Cattle and the Tuberculin Test. 



On April 30, 1896, the Board of Agriculture issued a notice 

 to the Press drawing the attention of exporters of cattle and 

 others to a decree recently issued by the French Government, 

 which provides that cattle imported into France, other than 

 those intended for immediate slaughter, must, after the 15th 

 April 1896, be subjected on landing to the tuberculin test, and 

 will be kept under observation at the expense of the importers 

 for not less than 48 hours. In the event of the test not beinc* 

 satisfactory, the cattle will be turned back after having been 

 marked, unless the importer consents to the immediate slaughter 

 of the animals under the supervision of the Customs veterinary 

 officer. 



Cattle intended for immediate slaughter are not subjected to 

 the tuberculin test, but can only be sent to the markets of places 

 which possess a public abattoir, and their slaughter must be 

 certified by the veterinary surgeon in charge. 



In connection with the foregoing decree, the Director-General 

 of French Customs has issued a circular dated 17th April 1896, 



