January 2, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
575 
AMERICAN TRADE WITH LIBERIA. 
Consul-General Smith, in transmitting the statement 
of the direct tr.ide between Liberia and the United 
States, notes that there are, each year, "additions 
to the farming clans of the country from among Li- 
beiians, recent emigrants, and a few aboriginal Africans. 
There is an impression spreading, and happily in- 
fluencing the common people, that the hope for bread, 
for comfort, for respectable manhood is in the S"il. 
The increase of collee is in like proportion to the 
quantity reported, perhaps a little in excess of last 
year. Camwood has not appreciably decreased in 
quantity nor quality. The Consul-General reports hav- 
ing been thowu some very fine specimens of gum 
copal from the Kroo country between Grand Bassa 
and Cape Palmas. But the Liberians have clone nothing 
toward securing and shipping this valuable article. 
The Consul-General having giv* n the necessary in- 
formation concerning this new article of gum copal 
to some American dealers, he believes that it will 
soon be found in the New York and London markets. 
— American Exporter. 
AGRICULTURE ON THE CONTINENT 
OF EUROPE. 
(Special letter.) 
Paris, 8th October. 
With the view to develop the use of steam ploughs 
in France, a native manufacturer will lend that im- 
plement gratis, in order that intending purchasers 
may test its utility. The combination system, for 
the general purchase of farm machinery, the subscribers 
employing the implements by a rotation determined 
by lot, is also making satisfactory progress. At the 
Electricity Exhibition, the plough ordinarily worked 
by steam has lor motor electricity, which drags the 
machine in inverse directions, as do 'he locomobiles. In 
the case of the electric motive power, it is not necessary 
to transport the generating machine to the grounds, 
the current can be sent along by wires, at a distance 
of one or two miles from the farmstead, where 
the generator can be turned by the stationary steam 
engine. It docs seem, that the only difficulty con- 
nected with the use of electricity is to be able to pro- 
duce it on a large and ciieap scale. In the case of ox- 
tensive illumination, electricity can be profitably 
employed, but not otherwise up to the present. There 
is no doubt electricity, as a source of power and heat, 
as well as of light, will be mado commercially cheap. 
For example, tho power of the fluid is marvellous : 
in the Electric Exhibition the one current supplies 
tho light, and drives the several machines, while 
never displaying any diminution in power, despite the 
several and varied demands mado upon its services. 
Salicylic acid, after remaining for a long time a labor- 
11: >ry curiosity, has developed into a modern industry. 
The new product was accepted by some enthusiasts as 
me philosopher's stone: it was boasted that it cured 
every disease, no matter whether of long or 
short standing, like a patent medicine. Then 
came the inevitable reaction. The French Government 
excommunicated it in the interest of the public health, 
while other countries, that dispense with Government 
tutelage, had no complaints to record on sanitary 
ground'. In Germany the acid Ins been found by 
Votc-riutiiy surg-ons efficacious against several diseases : 
homes with sore mouths were cured iu live clays 
by merely allowing them to bathe their lips in a weak 
•olution, renewed thrice daily. Iii 1874 iii Hungary, 
when the poiiltrycpidemiobrokoout — eruption about the 
cyud, head, feet, &o.— a cure was effected by tonohing 
tbe affected parts with a brush dipped in a solution ; 
adding the acid to a tub in which clucks and geese 
ng it with sand or ashes wherein 
Of late, in Germany, saJic\ 
count bathe, and mix 
fowls liked to roll, 
acid has been succc 
not as a remedial 
agent. For horses, 
one-thirtieth of an 
die 
lull', 
bul 
daily 
ler stock m 
proposition : about three ounces of the acid dis- 
solved in a bucket of warm water, and the solu- 
tion proportionally distributed. As an antiseptic 
the acid is excellent. An objection has been made, 
that it lessons the reproductive powers of stock, but 
M.Ludloff, who has employed the acid daily for 
five years, finds that 100 cows produced 89 calves, 
while the average was 88 for the preceding five years. 
The generative functions are thus unaffected. The 
cost of the acid, per head of cattle, per week, is only 
one penny. 
The cultivation of the parsnip is taking extensive 
proportions in France as a forage plant : its natural 
home appears to be Brittany, where it continues to 
grow till the close of December. M. Le Bian has 
made the culture of this root a speciality, and is in 
a fair way to substitute it extensively for oats for 
horse feeding. It goes capitally with maize, and hogs 
accept it as a dainty dish 
The seat and centre of the charbon disease, or 
"mouuiaiu malady," is in Huvergne : the Pasteur 
process ol vaccination has been tried in several of the 
mountainous districts, and with the fullest success. M. 
Pasteur announces that he is occupied in the arrange- 
ment of a little laboratory for the commercial prepara- 
tion of vaccine : he will not be ready to execute 
orders till next spring; no loss will be incurred in the 
interim, as the disease is limited during winter. Ho 
will prepare 44 gallons of the "pock," sufficient to 
vaccinate one million of animals ; it will be forwarded 
in special glass tubes, and the cost will be one-half- 
penny per head of stock. Up to the present, 50,000 
animals, sheep, oxen, cows, horses, &c., have been 
vaccinated, and with success, in the sense that they 
have been saved, while others at their side have 
succumbed. 
The two most successful means for destroying the 
phylloxera are, autumnal inundations followed in 
spring by rich manuring.-*, and, next, the use of sulphuret 
of carbon, in the proportion of three-quarters of an 
ounce per scpiare yard, dibbled around the roots. 
The sulphuret has the disadvantage of being dear, and 
the drawback of killing the patient occasionally. 
Where the latter occurs, the cause will bo found 
to reside in an excess of humidity in the soil, 
and the lowness of surrounding temperature. On 
well-drained lands, having a silicious or calcareous 
subsoil, the sulphuret may be employed with safety: 
treat only vines not too gravely attacked by the 
hug, and select winter for the work ; when the 
soil is tenacious and the disease long standing, 
multiply the holes in the square yard and reduce 
the doses. In spring, apply farmyard manure, with 
the addition of potash salts, in the chloride form 
for example, but never employ oil-cake. 
Petroleum cures cutaneous affections; M. Desbois 
finds, if it does not kill ants, it drives them away, 
as ho kuows from experience in his conservatory. 
It has been decided by several of the Councils 
General that for tho future highroads and the by- 
ways shall be planted with fruit trees, iustead of 
elms, poplars, acacias, ash, Ac, that merely exhaust 
the soil. 
Tho viutag • is ex client this year in point of quality. 
Tho beet crop will not ( bo heavy, but tho juice 
will bo very rich. 
