458 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
The question of the “yield” per acre is an equally 
interesting and important one. 
A tummolo is equivalent to 5/18 of an acre and 
this equals 12,100 square feet. Allowing then 21- 
square feet as the planting space for each plant, 
and a clear space of feet between each pit in 
one direction and 5-| feet clear space laterally, (an 
amount which is in excess of that which is allowed 
in the Bahamas, Yukatan, and Florida, the great 
centres of the sisal industry) a tmnolo of ground 
would take about 170 to 180 plants. Mr. Stoddard 
in his report to the Government of Jamaica (vide 
Kew Bulletin) states that from 30 to 35 leaves 
per annum may be estimated for each plant and 
the Bahamian report states that 40 leaves may be 
cut annually from a mature plant. Each leaf 
weighs on an average H lbs. so that one tummolo 
of ground would produce 180 multiplied by 40 
multiplied by 1 b pounds which equals nearly 5 
tons per annum. In Yukatan and the Bahamas it 
is estimated that 5 per cent, of this is fibre, so that 
one tummolo would produce 540 pounds of fibre 
and this at say £ 20 per ton (the price at the pre- 
sent time is considerably more) would represent 
an annual value of about £ 4. 16. 5 per tummolo. 
Mr. Stuart in his recent report to the Bahama 
government says:— “The planters never speak 
doubtfully of their returns, as experience show 
them their crops can be relied upon with almost 
absolute certainty.” 
These are a few practical suggestions and hard 
facts. With these before us, and given the necc s- 
sary energy and enterprise combined with a certain 
modicum of inventive genius on the part of our 
legislators, where, I would ask, are the difficulties 
that are to prevent the speedy establishment of 
the sisal industry in the Maltese Islands? 
John H. Cooke. 
Notes and News 
m 
1 HE Editors desire those correspondents 
who have so kindly sent them such season- 
able expressions of goodwill during the 
last week to accept their hearty thanks; 
and they trust that it will not be taken as 
an evidence of want of appreciation of the 
kindly wishes if they now adopt this gene- 
ral form of acknowledgment. 
o 
m 
HE current issue of “ Natural Science” 
is, as usual, brimful of interesting articles 
and news. Among others we note “High- 
Level Shelly-sands and Gravels” by T.Mel- 
lard Reade C. E.,F.G.S. “Some Facts of Fe- 
j legony” by Frank Finn F. Z. S., “Further 
! notes on Arachnid and Insect Develop- 
j merit” by G. H. Carpenter. E.Sc. “Notes on 
| the Evolution of the Scales of Fishes” by 
i A. Smith Woodward F. L. S. “The Sedg- 
wick Museum Cambridge” by H. Woods 
B. A.. F. G S. and “Recent Explorations of 
the Maltese and Sicilian Caverns.” 
E desire to call the attention of our 
readers to the “Special Notice” on the front 
page of the present number. 
A HE limans in the neighbourhood of 
Odessa, that is the salt water lakes on the 
shore which have already lost their connec- 
tion with the sea, are sometimes seen to 
| emit a phosphorescent light. This fact was 
| especially striking during 1890-91. As the 
| N uctiluca-miliwris , which renders the wa- 
ter of the Black Sea phosphorescent, does 
not inhabit the limans, their water was 
carefully investigated by M. Zabelotuyi 
who found that all the light is due to an 
infusorium Glenodinium (allied to G. cint- 
cum from the Peridinidoe. It appears that 
it is the protoplasm of the little animal 
which emits light. » 
Entomologist requires situation as Pri- 
vate Secretary or curator of collection of 
insects, any Orders. Best references and 
testimonials from scientific men. Three 
years tuition under the late Professor 
W estwood. 
Address John W. Shipp. University 
Museum, Oxford. England. 
