578 
Supplement to the " Tmncal Agriculturist:' [Feb. 1, 1904. 
"It must not be forgotten," says M, Andre, 
"that this shrub is specially fitted to produce rich 
forage on very poor land." In rich soil, on culti- 
vated land, the growth is much inferior, but on 
stony ground, -with plenty of sunshine, it grows 
well if certain precautions are taken. On the 
embankments of railway cuttings, for instance, 
lines may be traced 40 inches apart, and holes 
made with a pickaxe 16 to 20 inches wide and 
about the same depth. These are filled with good 
soil. It would be better still to make a continu- 
ous trench partly filled with good soil, so that the 
roots can intertwine. If the slope is steep the 
soil taken ont of the trenches should be heaped up 
below the trench, so as to form a sort of bank 
which will dam up the rain water to the benefit 
of the plant. When the ground is very stoney it 
is best to put a little good vegetable soil around 
the roots. If once the roots take hold, the plants 
•will take care of themselves. 
The soil should be prepared in winter, and the 
planting done in spring. The winter rains will 
have refreshed the soil, and the spring sun will 
set the plants growing with rap-dity. In stoney 
ground, which has a sufficient quantity of soil, or 
where there are fissures between the rocks into 
which the roots can penetrate deeply, the plants 
may be placed 40 inches apart which will give 
about 4,000 plants to the acre. Of course in poor 
soils they must be put further apart. 
Propagation by seed is perhaps the best way to 
cultivate this shrub, but the seeds are difficult to 
obtain in large quantities. 
The Medicaffo arborea grows well on the chalky 
soil of the South, particularly in the neighbourhood 
of Nice and Monaco, but it also thrives on rocky 
ground. 
As soon as the plantation is well established, 
as regards products of forage, the leafy branches 
should be cut in spring, immediately after the full 
developement of the foliage, and given to the cattle 
which eat even the wood if it is still soft. Fresh 
branches will then shoot and produce a second 
crop. — Agricultural Gazette of N. S. W, 
G ENEEAL ITEMS. 
The main cause of sore back &c. on horses 
is allowing the hair to become matted or rolled 
by the chafing of collar or saddle into small 
hard knots, which when caked with sweat, 
dust or scurf cause friction of the outer cuticle. 
Chip off tlie hair closely from the parts of the 
body that come in contact with collar and saddle, 
and 80 per cent of such cases of sores will dimi- 
nish. The next point to be observed is that saddle 
and collar stuffing is even and not soft, and that 
a saddle cloth is used that is waterproof and will 
not absorb sweat. 
It is reported that as a result of the action 
of the British Cotton Growers' Association, 200 
bales of West Indian grown cotton (Sea Island 
variety) were sold by Mesrs. Hammer & Co. 
of Liverpool at 13^d. per lb. 
According to analysis, Paspalam dtlatatum(gTeen 
odder) contains 72*84 per cent of moisture and 
8-68 per cent of fibre. 
Give fools their gold, and knaves their power, 
Let fortune's bubbles rise and fall, 
Who sows a field, or trains a flower, 
Or plants a tree, is more than all. 
For he who blesses most is blest. 
And God and man shall own his worth 
Who toils to leave as his bequest 
An added beauty to the earth. 
According to the Agricultural Gazette of New 
South Wales, Hydrocyanic Acid is used with most 
satisfactory results in ridding houses of bugs. 
The room to be cleaned should be made as air- 
tight as possible by plugging up all crevices. 
The gas is generated in an earthenware vessel 
and left in the closed room over night. The 
formula is oz. cyanide of potassium (a deadly 
poison) to 1^ oz. Sulphuric acid and 4 o^.'of water 
for every 150 c. ft of space. The water is measured 
in the basin, the acid poured gently from the 
bottle held at arm's length, and then the cya- 
nide weighed out carefully and placed in a piece 
of paper, is dropped into the basin and the door 
of the room immediately closed. The fumes 
of gas should in no account be inhaled, and 
the room should be thoroughly ventilated after- 
wards. 
Zebrula is the name given to Professor Ewart's 
cross from mares of different breeds and zebra 
stallions of the Burchell kind. From its form 
and general bodily condition — especially the hard- 
nesss of the hoofs— it is specially adopted for all 
transport work performed by mules. The Indian 
Government has already experimented with Ze- 
brulaa for transporting mountain artillery at 
Quetta. In Germany, where much interest in 
this animal is being manifested, the well-known 
Hagenbeck is taking up the matter with a view to 
introducing the Zebrula both into Germany and 
America. A full-grown specimen is 14 hands 
high, and the girdle circumference is about 63 
inches. Experiments have so far been so successful 
that it is expected that before long the Zebrula 
will entirely supercede the mule. 
To get rid of flying foxes from fruit gardens 
it is recommended that long strips of calico or 
other strong cotton cloth, dipped in hot melted 
sulphur be tied to the branches of each 
tree. Those who lose mangoes, mangosteens, 
rambutans and other fruits through flying foxes 
should try this simple remedy which is reported 
to be very effective. 
Professor Wolff of Hohenheim found in 2,000 
lbs. of fresh cowdung 6 8 lbs. nitrogen, 3*2 lbs. 
phosphoric acid and 8 lbs. potash, This worked 
give in 33 loads of 3000 lbs. each (99-000 lbs.) 336"6 
lbs. nitrogen, 154'4 lbs. phosphoric acid, and 
396*0 lbs. potash, 
