262 



Parliamentary P ublications. 



the mixture. The soda solution is added to the copper 

 sulphate solution precisely as is the lime water when pre- 

 paring the mixture with copper sulphate and lime in the 

 ordinary way. The carbonate of soda used was that usually 

 sold as washing soda. 



The results obtained confirm the experience gained by the 

 demonstrations and experiments conducted in previous years, 

 namely, that the proper application of a correctly prepared 

 Bordeaux mixture to the potato crop by means of suitable 

 spraying machines before the appearance of disease, though 

 not entirely preventive of disease, has a marked effect in 

 lessening the loss of yield and quality that usually results 

 therefrom, and that under such circumstances the increase of 

 yield due to the spraying usually considerably more than 

 pays for the cost of application. During 1896, as in former 

 years, potato disease was more or less prevalent in those 

 districts in which experiments or demonstrations in con- 

 nection therewith were carried out for the Irish Land 

 Commission, and manifested itself to some extent on all the 

 plots on which demonstrations were conducted. 



The results obtained on those plots which were treated 

 with Bordeaux mixture made with carbonate of soda show 

 that it is probably as efficacious as the copper sulphate and 

 lime mixture. 



Agricultural Produce (Marks) Bill. Report and Special 

 Report from the Select Committee on the Agricultural Pro- 

 duce (Marks) Bill; with the Proceedings of the Committee, 

 [H.C.—i6$.~] Price id. 



The Select Committee of the House of Commons, to whom 

 the Agricultural Produce (Marks) Bill was referred, issued on 

 July 29th last a special report which states that the Committee 

 are of opinion that the identification of foreign meat and 

 cheese is desirable, and that there would be no great 

 difficulty in carrying this out in the case of foreign carcases 

 and cheeses. 



The Committee are also of opinion that any legislation in 



