216 
Supplement to the Tropical AgricutturisV [Sepi. 2, 1901. 
and tnfiem). These small whif e or creamy-coloured 
worms are chiefly found iu the duodenum, and 
generally in groups of from ten to fifteen. Some- 
limes they forma plug which blocks up the 
alimentary canal. Birds infected with them are 
usually ravenous and yet keep losing condition. 
In length these -white worms vary from one-third 
to the three-fifths of an inch in the case of H. 
papulosa and from 1 to 4 inches in H. inflera. The 
eggs or embryos are probably obtained from dirty 
•water but also off the ground. Diseased birds should 
be isolated. The worm can easily be expelled by 
a does of thymol ; one grain made up in a dough 
pill and administered morning and night. Similar 
good results have sometimes been obtained by the 
use of three grains of santonine given in the same 
way. 
Diphtheritic Roup is one of tlie most contagious 
diseases from which fowls suffer. It is due at 
least in part to certain very lowly organi&ed 
single-celled animals called Protozoa which invade 
the mucous membrane of the mouth, pharynx, 
and even the drop and windpipe. This viru- 
lent disease manifests itself either as loo.se yellow 
cheesy patches or as small firmly -fixed nodules 
in the mouth, the latter especially around the 
tongue and beak. In these false membranes and 
the tissues beneath them may be found the 
minute parasites which either directly or indirectly 
cause the false growths. Certain authorities 
state that bacteria are the active agents, but 
the probability is that these Protozoa are entirely 
accountable for the disease. If left alone a 
diseased bird is almost sure to die. 
It IS most important that any bird showing 
any symptoms of this complaint should at once be 
isolate<l, and the drinking vessels in the run well 
disinfected by boiling and strong carbolic acid. 
The loose growths should be very carefully 
removed with a blunt knife or two blunt needles, 
and the mouth well washed out with a 10 per 
cent, solution of salicylate of soda or boracic 
acid. Probably several operations will be neces- 
sary, as some small diseased areas may escape 
notice. In any case the mouth is best treated 
several times with the disinfectant. The hard 
patches may be burnt away with lunar caustic. 
Everv dead bird should be carefully destroyed 
and the run or yard disinfected either by sul- 
phuric acid or by a dressing of fresh gas-lime 
after an outbreak. The best results iu treatment 
have been obtained with salycilic acid or salicy- 
late soda, and it is advisable to place a one 
per cent, solution for the fowls to drink for 
a week after any signs of the disease have been 
noticed in the run. In no case should a bird 
be allowed freedom until it has been completely 
cured. When the disease is very advanced it is 
best to kill the bird and destroy it, but if 
taken in time a cure can be easily affected. 
Another disease closely related in origin to 
this form of Roup and often found with it is 
a coml) and wattle disease called Epithelioma 
cordagiomm. It appears as yellowish brown 
nodules varying in size form a pin's head 
to that of a bean. A hollow from which a 
yellow exudate oozes and forms a brownish crust 
or ecrab appears in the nodules. The parasites 
are minute protozoa which invade the epithelial 
cells. The beat treatment seems to be painting 
the diseased areas with oil of turpentine and 
isolating the bird. 
To avoid all parasitic diseases of poultry it 
is very important that fresh stock birds should 
he well examined before being turn out, as 
a single diseased bird, especially if it be 
a cock, may soon contaminate a whole run. — 
N.S, W. Agricultural Gazette. 
THE FIG. 
In view of the fact that a number of people are 
trying to grow figs and grapes, we insert the 
following notes— with reference to the fig indus- 
try near Smyrna, one of the chief fig-growing dis- 
tricts; — which, we believe, will prove of interest to 
local growers of the fruit. The notes are ex- 
tracted from a report by Mr. AY. Finacure after a 
visit to the country : — 
The soil in the Meander Valley, where the fig 
of commerce grows, is, owing to its position, very 
loose, and very deep, and has the advantage of 
retaining moisture. Many opinions have been 
advanced to me why this valley is so adapted for 
this peculiar kind of fig, one being that the tree 
requires moisture, and the character of the soil is 
such that it retains it. Another, that the valley 
is sheltered, which is the case ; it is surrounded by 
mountain?. Another, that the soil contains a 
certain amount of sweetness, q|| a proof of which 
is instanced the immense quantity of Liquorice it 
produces. It is impossible, to my mind, to arrive 
at any correct conclusion, because cultivation is 
carried on so recklessly and stupidly that it is 
difficult to eay what are the precise advantages 
from which the tree profits. 
The cultivation as conducted by the natives is 
bad. The soil is badly tilled, the trees badly 
grown, they are untrained, and the suckers which 
grow off the parent tree, under the delusion that 
they add to the producing power, are fastened on 
to the tree. No doubt this gives a greater bulk, 
but it is not agriculture. Rules as to drainage 
are utterly disregarded ; the fig may require 
much moisture, but a certain amount of drainage 
is also necessary. I have seen a whole plantation 
flooded with rain water for want of escape, simply 
because the natives are too lazy to form the ground 
properly. All Englishmen to whom I have spoken 
agree with me that the impressions which I formed 
as to the slovenliness of the peasants are quite 
correct, and I am certain that as a consequence 
of bad cultivation the fig has deteriorated. The 
skin is leathery, atid the flavour poor. The fact 
i?. Nature has done so much in Asia Minor that 
man is not inclined to exert himself. 
Fertilisation takes place when the fruit is one- 
third the size ; it will attain when ripe and to 
prevent the fruit dropping prematurely, and to 
hasten its ripening, caprification is resorted to. It 
consists of placing the wild fig among the 
branches of the domestic one. Wreaths are made 
by stringing loosely on pieces of rushes from two 
to twelve wild figs, according to the size of the 
tree upon which it is to be placed. The peasant 
takes a basketful of these wreaths and flings 
