582 
Sapijlement  io  the  “ Tropical  Agricaltarist.^' 
[Feb,  1,  1897. 
The  following  are  among  the  advantages 
claimed  for  nitragin  when  used  as  directed  : — 
1.  That  every  single  seed  is  surrounded  with 
a covering  of  bacteria,  which,  after  germina- 
tion, penetrate  into  the  ror>t  liairs  and  begin 
tlieir  activity  in  collecting  nitrogen,  so  tliat 
without  nitrogenous  manuring  and  even  in  soils 
poor  in  nitrogen  a good  yield  is  assured. 
2.  That  through  the  activity  of  the  bacteria 
the  soil  becomes  richer  in  assimilable  nitrogen 
which  goes  to  benefit  the  succeeding  crop  also. 
3.  Tliat  the  disadvantages  of  the  method 
hitherto  adopted  of  necessity,  of  inoculating 
with  earth  obtained  from  a field  are  avoided. 
4.  That  a manuring  with  nitrogen  in  the 
form  of  nitrates,  ammonia  salts,  &c.,  is  rendered 
superfiuous. 
The  e.vperiments  of  Dr.  Nobhe  and  others 
certainly  offer  strong  evidence  in  favour  of  these 
conclusions.  The  practical  question,  however, 
that  it  seems  to  us  wo  have  to  take  into 
account  is  whether,  as  a matter  of  agricultural 
e.Kperience,  we  do  find  soils  under  ordinary 
cultivation  in  which  there  is  a deficiencj’’  of 
the  organisms  which  are  required  for  the  pro- 
per development  of  ordinary  leguminous  crops, 
and  which  enable  them  to  assimilate  the  nitro- 
gen of  the  atmosphere;  and  whether  in  consequence 
of  such  deficiency  in  quantity,  or  absence  of 
those  kinds  most  favourable  to  the  development 
of  the  particular  crop,  we  should  obtain  a better 
yield  of  the  leguminous  crop,  and  at  the  same 
time  lay  up  a larger  store  of  nitrogenous  food  for 
the  succeeding  or  contemporaneous  one,  if  we 
were  to  inoculate  the  seed  or  the  land  in  the  way 
proposed.  These  are  questions  which  can  only  be 
answered  by  practical  trial. 
Certain,  however,  it  is  that  diftlculty  is  not  in- 
frequently e.xperienced  in  the  raising  of  a healthy 
growth  of  leguminous  crops,  particularly  in  suc- 
ces.sion  on  the  same  land,  and  sometimes  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  a tolerably  limited  area. 
The  main  point  appears  to  be  whether  it  may 
not  be  wise  to  ensure,  by  means  of  such  inocula- 
tion, that  the  organisms  peculiar  to  each 
leguminous  crop  are  i)resent  in  .sufliciency,  so 
that  the  crop  may  grow  luxuriantly  while  the 
soil  is  enriched  in  nitrogen  for  another  crop,  and 
both  rendered  independent  of  any  .special  nitro- 
genous manuring. 
Altogether  a vast  field  of  enquiry  lias  been 
opmed  up,  and  though  first  e.vperiments  must 
be  neces.sarily  tentative  in  character,  a year  or 
two  should  give  us  the  results  of  extended  trials 
on  a commercial  scale  and  on  different  classes 
of  land. 
{The  End.) 
rRCVENTATiVE  MEASURES  FOR 
RINDERPEST. 
The  following  are  extracts  from  a Govern- 
ment Notification  publislied  in  the  Natal  Far- 
mers Magazine,  being  taken  from  a Minute  liy  the 
Principal  Veterinary  Surgeon  to  the  Commissioner 
of  Agriculture  in  that  Colony  : — 
If  an  animal  is  found  shivering  with  a staring 
or  hide-bound  coat  and  in oi.st  eyes,  lie  should  with- 
out delay  be  isolated  and  kept  under  observation, 
and  if  a second  case  manifests  itself  the  fact 
should  be  at  once  reported  to  the  nearest  authori- 
ties, and  a caution  given  to  neighbours  that  suspi- 
cion exists.  On  no  account  should  the  rest  of  the 
herd  be  removed  to  another  place,  as  if  the  dis- 
eise  unfortunately  should  prove  to  be  rinderpest, 
the  infection  of  the  entire  herd,  though  apparent- 
ly in  perfect  health,  is  a matter  of  almost  abso- 
lute certainty.  Such  removal  cannot  be  carried 
out  without  either  danger  to  others  or  of  the  in- 
fection of  fresh  ground,  wdiich  may  be  of  great 
value  subsequently  as  a pasturage  above  suspi- 
cion 0 1 which  healthy  stock  may  be  kept.  In  any 
case  1 would  emphasize  the  futility  of  changing 
one’s  ground.  If  a change  is  made  it  should  be  a 
concentration  of  all  animals  not  visibly  ailing, 
which  have  been  in  contact,  towards  the  centre 
of  the  farm,  as  far  distant  from  one’s  neighbours 
as  possible.  This  cannot  but  be  the  duty  of  every 
right-minded  man  who  has  at  heart  the  welfare  of 
his  neighbour  and  the  direct  interest  of  his 
country.  The  present  feeling  of  panic  now  so 
prevalent  is  much  to  be  deprecated.  A timorous 
apprehension  cannot  be  the  best  front  to  show  to 
danger  of  any  sort,  and  anyone  caring  to  investi- 
gate the  preparations  made  for  the  reception  of 
the  disease  must  e.xoaerate  these  concerned  in  the 
defence  of  the  colony  from  the  opposite  and  equal- 
ly fatal  mistake  of  underrating  the  danger.  It  is  in 
my  opinion  highly  improbable  that  the  disea.se  is 
going  to  decimate  or  even  grievously  injure  the 
colony.  We  may  not  be  so  fortunate  as  to  e.x- 
clude  it  absolutely,  but  I am  convinced  that  a de- 
termined and  level-headed  redstance  to  its  progress 
foot  by  foot  will  first  check  and  then  e.xtermiuate 
the  di.sease.  Failure  can  only  come  through  panic 
and  half-hearted  measures.  The  prevalent  con- 
ception that  the  disease  possesses  some  supernatu- 
ral power  of  spontaneously  generating  itself  or 
making  a long  jump  of  a hundred  miles  without 
being  carried  is  most  erroneous  and  contrary  to 
the  dictates  of  reason  and  science.  It  should  be 
strongly  impressed  upon  the  memory  that  the 
disease  goes  only  where  it  is  taken,  and  that  it  is  a 
deficiency  of  evidence  only  which  prevents  onr 
tracing  tlie  cause  of  eich  fresh  outbreak  as  it 
occurs.  Strict  cleanliness  of  person  should  be 
observed  on  the  part  of  those  in  contact  with  the 
disease,  more  particularly  if  they  contemplate 
leaving  the  infected  district.  Boots  should  be 
cbanged,  or  if  this  is  impossible,  they  should  be 
thorougbly  scraped  upon  the  sole  and  scrubbed 
with  a ten  per  cent,  solution  of  (Juibell’s  or  Jeyes’ 
fluid,  or  some  similar  compound  duly  authorised. 
The  hands  should  receive  the  same  treatment  as 
far  as  the  scrubbing  with  an  antiseptic  solu- 
tion is  concerned  ; the  nails  should  bo  kept  short 
and  thoroughly  clean  by  brushing,  after  handling 
a sick  or  suspected  beast.  Tools  used  for  the 
burial  of  carcases  are  infected,  and  cannot  be 
brought  back  to  the  homestead  without  risk  until 
disinfection  has  taken  place.  Natives  employed 
in  the  herding  or  burial  of  affected  animals — 
(treatment  of  any  sort  is  playing  with  lire  and 
is  worse  than  useless)— should  be  considered 
highly  sus])icious  as  transmitters  of  the  disease, 
and  their  thorough  disinfection  is  a duty  of 
every  employer  personally.  Where  possible,  car- 
cases should  be  burnt.  This  process  is  tedious,  but 
absolutely  safe  when  carried  out. 
