148 
Supjilement  to  the  Tropical  Agriculturist:'  [Aug.  1,  1895.^ 
etc.  The  quantity  of  water  which  the  fresh  weeds 
contain  will  always  I’estrict  its  use  to  land  near 
the  coast.  It  is  too  bulky  in  this  state  to  cart  far 
inland,  but  when  partially  dried  befo'-e  removal, 
this  objection  is  in  some  measure  overcome.  In 
this  way  it  is  said  to  be  largely  dealt  with  on  the 
west  coast  of  Ireland,  the  fishermen  collecting 
and  half  drying  the  seaweed  by  exposure  to  the 
air,  and  then  selling  it  to  farmers  to  be  carted 
inland  as  a dressing  for  their  fields.  There 
can  be  no  two  opinions  as  to  the  value  of 
seaweed  as  a green  manure,  containing  as  it 
does  all  the  substances  required  for  the  growth 
of  either  cereals  or  green  crops.  Its  ash  is  rich 
in  salt,  potash,  sulphuric  acid,  and  phosphate  of 
lime.  In  fact,  chemists  tell  us  that  this  product 
of  onr  shores  contains  at  least  twice  the  quantity 
of  these  valuable  matters  as  the  plants  which  are 
ordinarily  grown  by  farmers  as  green  manures. 
When,  therefore,  it  is  intelligently  used  so  as  to 
conserve  in  addition  its  most  important  nitro- 
genous constituents,  seaweed  is  a fertiliser  which 
is  not  easily  beaten.  Consequently,  those  who  are 
fortunate  enough  to  farm  within  easy  reach  of 
the  coast  will  be  very  unwise  if  they  neglect  to 
avail  themselves  of  such  a vnluable  manure. 
Farmers  so  situated  may  well  betake  themselves 
to  the  “ harvest  of  the  sea”  after  the  harvest  of 
the  land  is  safely  gathered  in. 
It  is  claimed  by  those  who  offer  kainit  in  the 
market,  that  the  manure  is  death  to  all  insect 
life — grub,  white-ant,  cutworm,  &c.,  &c.,  and  that 
it  is  of  more  importance  from  a manurial  point  of 
view  than  it  is  generally  considered  to  be.  In- 
deed, a number  of  experiments  carried  out  at  the 
Cape  have  gone  to  show  that  when  added  to 
farm-yard  manure,  guano,  and  other  practi- 
cally perfect  manures,  it  has  a wonderful  i>fi'ect. 
K.ainit  is  comparatively  cheap,  and  some  experi- 
ments with  it  might  with  advantage  be  carried 
out  in  this  country. 
The  chocho  appears  to  b«  making  satisfactory 
progress  in  N.S.  Whiles.  The  Editor  of  the 
N-S.W.  Gtzette  draws  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  plants  may  with  advantage  be  allowed  to 
remain  in  the  ground  till  they  shoot  up  the 
second  season.  After  the  second  season  it  is 
recommended  that  the  root  should  be  carefully 
removed,  when  it  will  be  found  that  a large  tuber 
has  been  formed,  somewhat  jelly-like  in  appear- 
ance when  cut,  which  can  be  utilized  either  by 
boiling  as  a vegetable,  or  fed  to  pigs,  for  which 
purpo.se  it  is  considered  particularly  valuable. 
It  would  appear,  from  the  result  of  a trial 
shipment  of  passion-fruit  that  no  very  certain  or 
remunerative  trade  in  the  article  could  be  expected 
in  England. 
We  hear  of  the  successful  treatment  of  horses 
affected  with  ticks,  fowls  with  lice,  and 
other  animals  with  either  of  the.se  pe.sts 
or  with  scab,  by  means  of  sulphur  administered 
internally.  The  results  would  appear  to  be  quick 
and  effectual,  and  the  treatment  worth 
trying,  but  the  doses  much  be  regulated  and  not 
given  at  random. 
Dr.  Patterson,  in  the  Gardeners'  Chronicle,  has 
recentlj'  advocated  the  cultivation  in  Enghuid  of 
the  “ aubergine”  more  commonly  known  amongst 
us  as  the  “ Hrinjal,”  partly  on  the  ground  of  its 
being  “ an  excellent  remedy  for  those  suffering 
from  liver-complaints.” 
I 
