596 
Supplement to th« " Trojncal Agriculturist." [Tkb. 1, 1899, 
of crude 'soda is added to the water. Greeii stems 
are thrown into this and steeped for about 15 
minutes; at tlie end of tliat time they are hooked 
out and stripped of the bark. These strips (ribbons) 
are then pasted through wooden rollers to squeeze 
out the superabundant mixture and are then hung 
up to dry in the sun. After l)eing very thoroughly 
dried, the ribbons are packed all tlie one way, i.e., 
longitudinally, in bales about 5 cwt. in weight. 
Great care has to be taken to keep the material 
clean when in a wet state, and it must never be 
heaped but hung in strands right away ;if heaped, 
fermentation is set up and the fibre is deteriorated 
if not destroyed. 
F. B. Guthrie, writing on Soil Mixture, in the 
N. S. Wales Gazette, says that the presence of 
humus is of special importance in reference to 
the problem we are discussing, namely, the best 
way to retain the mixture in the soil, lie points 
to the tendency of humus to be deficient in cul- 
tivated soil, and remarks that the best way of sup- 
plying humus is undoubtedly by green manur- 
ing, wliicl), he observes, is of benefit to tile soil in 
other ways, particularly in promoting bacterial 
activity and increasing the production of uitrate.s. 
The following figures are given by Poultry In- 
dustry as being taken from an American Census 
return showing the revenue-producing interests 
in tliat country : — 
Value of eggs and poultry dols- 
luodiicbd in one year... 290,000,000 
„ „ Silver production ... 7:^,000,000 
„ „ Wool cliu ... ... 38,140,459 
„ „ All sheep ... ... Gi5,lij7,725 
„ „ „ swine 180,529,745 
„ „ „ horses 500,140,186 
„ „ retnileiim xjrodncts ... 6'2,383,403 
„ „ Potato crop 78,984,901 
„ Tobacco crop ... 35,574,'220 
,, „ Cotton crop ... 259,164,040 
„ „ Wheat crop 237,938,998 
Imports of Coffee, one year ... 84,793,124 
Total of School expenditures ... 178,-'lo/550 
Net earnings of railroads ... 32o,510;454 
Mr. Guthrie, F.C.B., of the Department of 
Agriculture, Sydney, made the following 
analysis of Guineit grass examined when rather 
dry :— 
Per cent. 
Water 
Etiier extract (fats, &c.) 
Alburainoidti ... 
Curboiiydrates 
Woody fibre ... 
Ash 
11-26 
065 
11-37 
40*54 
26 0» 
9-/>0 
100 00 
Nutrient value = 53^. Nutrient ratio = 1 to 4- 
The injury done to hides ami the reduction iu 
their value by branding cuttle on the rump or sides 
is well-known. It is suggested that unimaU 
should be branded on tile neck, cIokc beliiud the 
ear, as this does least injury to the hide>, which, 
as a result, fetch much higher prices iu the 
market. 
In tile Cape Ayricultural Journal for Noveml>er 
is a de>cripiion of a plank race and caich-pit for 
trapping locusts, which in some respects is similar 
to the method which was found so successful iu 
Cyprus. 
The Government Entomologist at the Cape 
suggests the cultivation of a scale insect for 
the extermination of the Thorn tree (Acacia 
horrida- ) 
The botanical name of the plantain is sufiB- 
cieut to show its" antiquity, for the word 
musa is the old Sanskrit word mocha, while 
sapientum " of or belongitig to the wi-t-men " 
has reference to the old Hindu sage« or 
Eishis, whose chief food planlaiu3 were re- 
ported to be. 
