November i, 1890.] 
Siipplemeni to the Tvopicat AgviciUtHvktP 
391 
couuti'ies to which white people have migrated 
tliere is a preponderance of girls at birth. Horses 
equally serve to afford evidence that, in an en- 
vironinent different from their native one, there 
is an excess of female births. 
The results of the observations of M.M. Kiener 
and Cornevin, as given in their papers on this 
subject, and reproduced in the Royal Ayricultuval 
Journal, strongly support the statements given on 
their autliority in this note. 
GENEEAL ITEMS. 
Attention is being prominently called to an 
alleged cure for rieuro-pneumonia, which has 
already been tried and found effective. This 
cure was <liscovered l)y a Mr. Dawson, who 
argued that as I’lenro was caused by a species 
of microbe infesting the lungs, and as paraffin 
oil was found very effective in destroying minute 
pests which infest vegetation, it might also be 
eijually effective in destroying microbes in the 
lungs. Mr. Dawson solved the difficulty of getting 
the paraffin oil “sprayed” over the lungs liy 
putting a small siionge saturated with oil into 
one nostril of the affected animal, and holding the 
other nostril tight, and at every inspiration of 
the bea.st he gave the sponge a squeeze. The 
j)lau proved ((uite successful, and in every case 
resulted in the cure of the animal. The system 
has been tied in a large number of cases in 
different localities and always proved a complete' 
cure, the result being testified by veterinary 
authorities. The whole facts in connection with 
the discovery will be brought before Parliament 
shortly, so that this most simple and inexpensive 
ciu’c may be fairly and thoroughly tested. 
A new anil enlargeil edition of Aliss Ormerod’s 
work on insects, entitled “Injurious Insects and 
Alethodsof Prevention” has been lately ijublished. 
The volume is tastefully got iqq and is illustra- 
ted by a portrait of the distinguished authoress 
whom one Agricultural Journal designates “ the 
(|ueen of Entomological Science.” Sinqikin, 
.Marshall I'i: Co. are tlie publishers, and the book 
i.s priced at fir e shillings. 
Dr. Dabcock, an American chemist, has di.s- 
covered a new method of estimating the amount 
of fat in milk. The new plan consists in initting 
eipial (|iiantities of milk and sulxrhuric acid into 
a test bottle having a long narrow neck. The 
bottle is then placed on a wheel which revolves 
at the rate of six to eight huudr’ed times per 
minute. In the course of six minutes the fat 
of the milk which has been set free by the acid 
will have risen to the top. Some hot water i.s 
then ])onred into the bottle, so as to fill it up 
to a certain ]>oint ; and after other two minute.s 
whirling at the same rate, the cream will have 
again risen to the to]), and its percentage can 
be read on the graduated neck of the bottle. 
A new college farm has been establi.shed in 
the north of Scotland where all the branches of 
agriculture will be taught — the in.structors being 
all member.s of oni' family. These consist of 
Air. licdingham, senior, who will bo assisted by 
his eldest son who studied at the Edinburgh 
Univer.sity, and is at present a lecturer at the 
Tamworth College, his youngest son trained 
in America, and by his daugliter who is an 
adept in dairying. 
Paddy occupies an area of 1,*27:2,10() acres tliis 
year in the Aladras Presidency, a little under 
the normal area. Cotton is cultivated over 
71,800 acres. Indigo 11,200, and Gingelly 339,200. 
According to analyses made by Dr. Barry, 
Government Aiialyst at Bombay, buffalo’s milk 
has 18'67 per cent total solids, that of the 
Indian cow 12'88, that of English cows 13’20. 
The- fat in the milk of the three varieties of 
, auiniiils re.spectively, were, 7’78, 2‘87, and 3’82 
per cent. The difference was also borne out in 
the results of butter-making, and goes to show 
how valuable the buffalo is as a butter and yhee 
producing animal. 
As to the soil for grapes, Food, Home and 
Garden says ; — “ The old idea that grapes thrive 
best on light land is mainly due to the fact 
that such soils are naturally dry. IVhile a heavy 
clay is not best for the grape, it is jio insuper- 
able obstacle to success in vineyarding, provided 
it be thoroughly underdrained. In fact, grajie 
growing is possible under a wider range of con- 
ditions and soil than is the case with any oflier 
crop. The one thing that the grape roots cannot 
abide is stagnant water. No matter if this dries 
out in midsummer, it is then past the ]iower of 
the vine to regain lost time. Land thoroughly 
diained to the depth of three feet warms quickly 
and nuikes a di.ft'erence in temperature of five to 
ten degrees or more at the time when the vino 
most needs warmth.” 
According to the American Ayricullurid, a 
sandy lojun is the best soil for sweet potatoes, 
and well-rotted stable manure the best fertilizei'. 
By reservation of forest-land and the restrict- 
ing on cattle grazing the Aladras Govei’nnient 
thinks that it is doing its best to eliminate 
deteriorated cattle, and reiider the conditions of 
life easier for cattle of stronger growth. A fee 
is charged for each head of cattle admitted to 
the forest reserves. 
According to the Indian AyriculturiA, the 
study of elementary agriculture has been much 
attended to in primary schools in the Central 
Provinces of India during the past year. School 
gardens are to be estaldished for the boys to 
learn the industry jiractically. Both these plans 
have formed part of the policy of the late Director 
of Agriculture ii\ Ceylon in the appointment of 
Agricultural Instructors. 
The leaves of Dahoieia Ilopwoodii, a shrub 
growing in Australia, which are chewed by the 
natives in the same way as tobacco is chewed, 
bid fair I o be a rival to tobacco. The leaves of 
this tree contain an alkaloid ])iturine which is 
identical or closely allied to nicotine. At least 
it has been proved that the actions of nicotine 
and pit urine are in every i-espect identical. 
Frraiinn. — In October number, the title of first 
article should be “ Liquid Alauure." 
