728 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist." 
[April i, 1890. 
and in the spring of 1885, after the tops had rooted, 
he cut the arch at its highest point. In the first year 
two of the plants died, but the others (twelve vine 
and fourteen ivy) grew vigorously, and were still 
alive this last spring. To test the extent of the inver- 
sion, he cut slips from the inverted plants, and planted 
them in a green-house, some with their natural and 
some with their artificial upper end uppermost. It 
appeared that the callus, from which the roots 
spring, was formed at both ends, but more readily at 
the naturally lower end, whether this was above or 
below in the experiment. Herr Kay considers that, 
notwithstanding several years' successful culture, the 
inversion was not thoroughly completed. He proposes 
to continue his investigation, and invites people who 
have gardens to make like experiments with other 
plants, recommending willows, poplars, and roses. 
****** 
Says the Veterinary Journal: — Recent investigations 
have shown that gaseous substances, such as sul- 
phurous acid gas and chlorine gas, which have been 
often used for the purpose of disinfecting buildings 
cannot be relied on, and that the ODly disinfectant that 
can be depended upon to kill micro-organism, parti, 
cularly those capable of producing the infectious dis- 
eases, is a free application of a solution of perchloride 
of morcury. It is well to have this solution slightly 
acid, coloured also in such a way that it shall not readily 
be confused with drinks and medicines ; and proper 
precautions should be taken to prevent accidents in 
its use, it being a poison. The solution is made by 
dissolving half an ounce of corrosive sublimate (mercuric 
chloride) and one fluid-ounce of hydrochloric acid in 
three gallons of water, with five grains of commercial 
writing blue or ordinary violet ink, to give the fluid a 
conspicuously distinguishing character. The solution 
is easily made, keepe well, is inexpensive, and 
easily applied. It should not be further diluted. 
The use of non-metallic vessels (wooden or earthen ware 
house-tubs or buckets) should be enquired on those who 
use it. It can be applied with a whitewasher's brush, 
and a syringe should be used to Fquirt it into any nooks 
that the brush cannot reach. Wherever used the solu- 
tion should be liberally applied, and should be allowed 
to remain over night on parts which animals are likely 
to touch as mangers and racks, and which should be 
afterwards washed with warm water, in order to remove 
the mercury. 
****** 
The stringency of the laws relating to the sale of un- 
sound meat in Germany is instanced in a late decision 
In Silesia, where a man named Beier and his wife were 
sentenced to 15 years' hard labour for having knowingly 
sold trichinous pork, and thus caused the death of 
six persons. 
GENERAL ITEMS. 
Coconut milk is now being used in Germany in 
dyeing Bilk, cotton, and woollen stuffs. It is said to 
give a brilliancy to the colours used. 
It is suggested that plantain stems should be more 
generally utilized in the feeding of milch cows. It is 
so used cut up and mixed with other foods in America, 
where it is greedily devoured, and improves the quality 
and increases the quantity of milk. 
In England it is held that Sir Walter Raleigh first 
brought tbe potato over from America : the credit of 
having done so is given in Germany, or at least in parts 
of it to Sir Francis Drake. The French again regard 
their own Paramentier as entitled to most credit in 
this matter. In England the potato has been known 
since 1586. In Spain it had been introduced even 
earlier. It was not till 1772 that Paramentier made 
his first experiments in potato growing. 
Mr. Samuel Williamson Wallace who was farming 
" Twiglees," Dumfriesshire— a farm of over 4,000 
acres— in 1886, and since then was assistant to his 
brother the Professor of agriculture in the Edinburgh 
University, as well as lecturer on Agriculture at 
Herriot-Watt College, is about to leave Scotland and 
go abroad. Mr. Wallace, who is well-known as one of 
the mcst successful practical agriculturists in the 
South of Scotland, for some years gave the Agricultural 
Students at the University a practical training on his 
farm, and by his kindness and good-nature won the 
esteem and regard of those who spent the summer with 
him at :t Twiglees " and carried away so many pleasant 
recollections of their stay. We now read of Mr. 
Wallace having accepted an appoiotment in Egypt, for 
2 years at £,1000 a year. He is to establish a system of 
agricultural education in Egypt, and advise the govern, 
ment in the agricultural affairs of the country. 
The principal industry of Brazil is cottoD. The soil 
is admirably adapted for the production of the raw 
material, and there are about a hundred cotton-mills 
already established. 
Sir Dinshaw Manochjee Petit the second native of 
India and a Parsee who has been created a Baronet is one 
of the pioneers of the cotton-milling industry in the 
Bombay presidency— the Lancashire of India. Sir 
Dinshaw is principal proprietor of some eight cotton- 
mills. He is said to have expended £200,000 for the 
benefit of tho natives of India^-his latest acts of 
liberality being the gift of a site for the Victoria Jubilee 
Techincal Institute, and the founding of a Leper 
HospitaL 
We have to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of 
the "St. Thomas' College Magazine" for March, and 
hope that the " old boys " of the College will come 
to the rescue and help to prevent the financial crisis 
which the Editor is apprehending now, when the 
magazine is in its 16th year. 
