196 
tion and cultivation, and the character of the soil will always be 
factors which must be taken into consideration when using com- 
mercial fertilizers. 
A report of the Ceylon Agricultural Society in the Tropical 
Agriculturist (Colombo) for Alay says: ‘‘Some seed of the Alga- 
roba or Mesquit bean (Prosopis juliflora) has been rceeived from 
the Hawaiian Islands, but it is doubtful whether any will germi- 
nate, as they have been badly attacked by insects. The seeds were 
got out at the instance of a member, who thinks that the tree 
might be introduced into our dry areas and meet the difficulty of 
securing a supply of cattle fodder during the rainless months of 
the year.” 
Rudolph D. Anstead, a planting expert, writes as follows on 
information that dragon flies had been doing damage by eating 
the young tips of Hevea rubber tree shoots : “That dragon flies 
eat any part of a plant is an entirely erroneous idea. Their food 
consists of the small insects of which there are so many always 
flying about, and this is what they are after when they are seen 
hawking about all day. They occasionally settle on a twig for a 
rest, but when in this position are not feeding. That the Hevea 
shoots in question had been damaged is undeniable, but the 
damage was done probably by some form of aphis or blight, 
though this could not be found, and it is more than probable that 
the dragon flies were feeding on the blight. The larvae of the 
dragon fly are grub-like insects with large heads and formidable 
jaws, and are found in ponds and streams. These grubs feed 
voraciously on small water insects.” 
A historical and industrial number of the Mindanao Herald has 
been received. It makes a beautifully printed magazine of nearly 
a hundred pages three columns wide, “commemorating a decen- 
nium of American occupation of the land of the Farthest East and 
Nearest West.” The number is on book paper and copiously 
illustrated in half tones. It gives a splendid insight of the pro- 
digious resources of the Philippines and of their rapidly advanc- 
ing development under American rule. 
An agricultural school for pagan children is being established 
in the district of Davao, Island of Mindanao, Philippine Islands. 
C. R. Cameron, provincial superintendent of schools, has been 
working on the plan for some time. The school will be organized 
along military lines, the pupils to be uniformed and arranged 
in companies and squads, and the various activities timed to 
reveille, mess call, retreat, taps, etc. The purpose of the school 
