Mi 
Suppkment to the " Tropical Agriculturist.' 
SEPt. 1, 1900, 
(5) 
(6) 
(7) 
(8) 
(») 
(10) 
(11) 
extended. Meat inspection should be made 
as far as possible the object of practical 
examination for a veterinary diploma. 
This examination too must take place 
for the obtaining of the diploma as a 
veterinary surgeon, Moreover, it is required 
in this case, that the candidate has worked 
at least 8 weeks in the meat inspection of a 
large public slaughter house, standing 
under regular veterinary supervision. 
As a matter of principle, all inspection of 
meat must be founded on sure scientific 
bases and experimental rules, which should 
be agreed upon by an international under- 
standing. 
Inspection must be extended to all kinds 
of butcher's meat and be introduced every- 
where. It must include all beasts for the 
butcher and every kind of meat that serves 
lor human food and public use, whether it 
be destined for human food and public use, 
whether it be destined for public sale or 
private consumption. 
The efficiency of meat inspection is only 
perfect in those places where public 
slaughter houses exist together with com- 
pulsory slaughter. On that account, their 
.erection in as many communes as possible 
is advisable. 
It ie necessary for the inspection of fresh 
slaughtered meat coming from outside : 
(a) that the flesh of cattle and horses 
should be brought in at least in 
quarters, that of swine only in halves, 
and that of all other animals in an 
undivided state : and further, 
(6) that the most important intestines 
should be in natural connection with 
the meat. 
Fresh meat introduced from foreign 
countries is subject to the same 
requirement. 
Preserved meat from foreign coun- 
tries can only be imported if it is 
kept in a trustworthy, sanitarily 
unsuspicious manner, and its harm- 
lessness can b« affirmed with cer- 
tainty. 
Meat authorized for coneumption after 
inspection must be marked in a proper 
manner (stamping, leading, etc.). 
Meat proved to be harmless but of inferior 
TaUty must be sold under declaration at 
Jertaia places (" Freibauke ") under the 
supervision of the authorities. 
The introduction of a universal and com- 
nulsory insurance for slaughter cattle 
under State control is urgently required m 
the interest of meat inspection and the 
stamping out of cattle diseases. 
The results of meat inspection should be 
collected for scientific and economical 
purposes in statistics arranged on a 
definite plan, in which international aui- 
Jormity should be aimed at. 
ARTIFICIAL CHANGES OF PHYSICAL 
PROPERTIES OP SOIL. 
(Continued.) 
Thus, while the methods noted are effective 
in removing the hurtful excess of water, they 
may bring about a condition of dryness which in 
most cases, especially where rain is scarce, and in 
time of drought is unfavourable to growth of 
maximum crops. To do away with this diffi- 
culty, which militates against the best interests 
of rational tillage of land, such means of regula- 
tions ought to be adopted as will either cause the 
water to drain ofE more slowly, or allow of com- 
plete stoppage of all flow temporarily. The 
former can be attained only imperfectly, because 
in the end all the water not held bj' the soil is 
removed ; in the latter case, however, with proper 
care the moisture may be thoroughly utilized 
in accordance with the nature of the soil and 
the requirements of the crops. Drainage cannot 
be controlled effectively with open ditches, but it 
may very readily be done in case of under 
drains by calculating the diameter of the drain 
pipe on the basis of the quantity of water that 
percolates through hard, heavy soil. According 
to the experiments of the author, this amounts 
to O'COOS cubic meters, or 0'8 litre per second 
and hectare ( = 0"56 pint per second per acre). 
With this as a basis, and starting with the smallest 
feasible diameter of pipe (4 cm, or 1'6 in.), the 
drainage system may be so constructed that part 
of the moisture may be kept in the soil for a 
long time. This, however, hardly answers the 
purpose, since the humidity of the soil, es- 
pecially during the period of plant growth, 
cannot be fully controlled. Hence it is recom- 
mended that open ditches be provided with board 
dams and drains with flood gates, by means 
of which the flow of water may be interrupted 
either partly or entirely, as the occasion may 
require. This method is simple and easily applied 
in all ordinary forms of drainage. The higher 
portions of a dangerously moist field should be 
reserved for grains and hoed crops, while the 
lower parts are used for crops which possess a 
high power of evaporation (such as meadows). 
Even in this case, however, the plants will suffer, 
if the moisture in the soil exceeds 70 to 80 per 
cent, of saturation. The temporary pools which 
form on very fine grained soils during heavy rains 
must be removed either by direct withdrawal of the 
water (water furrows), or by such means as will 
bring about a diminution of the water capacity ; 
in other words, an increase in permeability or an 
increase of evaporation from the soil. In the 
first case effort must be directed principally 
toward producing a crumbly structure through 
cultivation and manuring, as suggested above, 
since by this means the water-holding capacity of 
the soil is reduced and percolation promoted. 
On extremely fine-grained soils (clay soils, black- 
earth), which in their unmodified condition offer 
the greatest resistance to the passage of water 
and become thoroughly moist only with the 
greatest difficulty, this process is indispensable ia^ 
order that the precipitation may be of any use 
at all to plaate. A favourable modificatioa o| 
