Sept. 1896.] 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. 



177 



name of Bacillus caulvorus. This bacillus is evidently the 

 cause of the disease, but the result of numerous experiments 

 shows that it attacks by preference varieties which, like the 

 Imperator, are unable to bear dividing, and it is met with more 

 frequently in clumps produced by cut tubers. It is therefore 

 always desirable to expose the cut portions of the tubers for two 

 or three days in an airy place. A thin skin will quickly cover 

 the divided parts and will prevent all decomposition. 



The system of germinating the tubers of early varieties before 

 planting for the purpose of advancing the crop, has recently 

 been applied to the late varieties. According to the experiments 

 of M. Desprez, director of the experiment station of Cappelle, it 

 has been shown that not only has the crop been rendered earlier, 

 but the returns have been improved ; in addition to which the 

 crop appears to be richer in starch. The preliminary germina- 

 tion is clone in flat boxes with divisions, in which the tubers are 

 arranged, care being taken to turn uppermost the part where 

 the eyes are most numerous. Budding quickly takes place, 

 according as the boxes are placed in suitable surroundings, and 

 the temperature kept nearly constant. 



In the cultivation of the potato, the question of manure is one 

 of great importance. This plant is not very exacting, but it 

 only gives large returns when heavily and suitably manured. 

 It seems from recent experiments that the nature of the fertilizer 

 sensibly influences the quality of the produce. Without entering 

 into the details of these experiments, it may be concluded in a 

 genera] manner that the exclusive employment of nitrogenous 

 manures is prejudicial to the development of starch ; the simul- 

 taneous employment of nitrogenous manure with phosphates or 

 potash has, on the contrary, a favourable influence on the pro- 

 duction of tubers of a high per-centage of starch. Although 

 this result has only a relative importance for the majority of 

 potato growers, who cultivate this plant only for their consump- 

 tion or for that of urban populations, it is otherwise in the case 

 of those who cultivate the potato for the extraction of starch or 

 alcohol. 



Irrigation in India. 



In the report dealing with the moral and material progress and 

 condition of India during 1894-95 (H.C. 218) some interesting 

 information is given relating to irrigation in India. The 

 history of irrigation in India stretches back into remote 

 antiquity, and many of the irrigation systems now administered 

 by the officers of the Public Works Department are founded on 

 the lines of old native works which have been restored and 

 extended or re-modelled. 



The class of works dealt with by the Public Works Depart- 

 ment under the head of irrigation may be roughly divided into 



