144 
Cattle-weighing Statistics. 
at the spot operated upon, every scrap of bark that showed any 
sign of disease. The wound was next dressed with grafting wax, 
and then a bandage was placed over all. At the end of January 
1892, the bandages were removed from two of the trees. It was 
very satisfactory to find that a clean healthy bark had formed over 
what last year was a cankered spot. Of course two cases are not 
enough to prove much, but I venture to think they go some way 
towards showing that young larches have vigour enough to stand 
surgical treatment, especially as in one case hardly any of the old 
bark was allowed to remain on, and that such treatment may save 
the life of the tree. 
T have observed that, in some instances, the growth of the tree 
is so vigorous that it bursts off the bandages before the young skin 
is properly formed. This might be overcome by a little care in 
fastening on the bandage. In those places where the larch is an 
important tree, and where, as here (Sarsden, Oxon), the disease is 
prevalent, I would urge growers to try this experiment on a larger 
scale. It may enable the trees to grow into money, whereas, if it 
fails, and kills the trees, there will be fewer centres of infection. 
Moeeton. 
CATTLE-WEIGHING STATISTICS. 
On November 25, 1891, the Board of Agriculture issued a Memo- 
randum, No. xl^y, calling “the attention of the market authorities 
and others whom it may concern to the scope and requirements of 
the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Acts, 1887 and 1891.” 
It will not be out of place to give some consideration to this 
useful document and the circumstances which have led to its publi- 
cation. 
By the Act of 1887, market authorities, i.e. every company, 
corporation, and person authorised to take and taking tolls in 
respect of cattle in any market or fair, were required to proHde and 
maintain sufficient and proper weighing accommodation. 
In this Journal (Vol. XXV., second series, 1889, page 447), there 
will be found a statement of the commercial reasons and needs for 
such a statute. Its enactment has done much to encourage the use 
of the weighbridge, and without doubt has led to the general intro 
duction of the latter. At the same time, as is usual in any inter- 
ference with customs, rights, or prejudices, a corresponding amount of 
dogged resistance came into operation. 
The authorities in some cases had among their members many 
who were directly interested in suppressing information or with- 
standing the application of a mechanical method of arriving at facts, 
which puts the inexperienced on better terms with the old practi- 
tioner, more particularly with the butcher, Avhose trade enables 
