65 
toxic matter, for trees planted in it (the grass being removed) do 
better than in soil taken from tilled ground, suchtoxic matter as there 
was present in it having evidently become destroyed before the tree 
started into growth : whether its presence originally in soil can be 
estabished by its effect on germinating seeds, still remains to be seen. 
If the formation of a toxic substance is the explanation of the 
grass effect, we might naturally expect great varialtjons in this effect 
in different soils : and this is certainly the case. At Ridgmont the 
effect is, perhaps, greater than in any other instance which has come 
under the writer’s observation, but cases of very nearly the same 
intensity have been found in various parts of the kingdom, whilst 
only one instance has been noticed where the grass, apparently, had 
no effect. This variation in intensity with the nature of the soil 
is, probably, the chief reason why the 1 action is not lhijfe widely 
recognised; but two other causes contribute to an under-estimation of 
the grass effect, the one that it is very rare for a plantation to be 
partly grassed in such a way as to give satisfactory evidence as to the 
bad effect of this grassing ; the other, that the grassing is generally 
effected gradually, extending throughout several seasons, and in that 
case, it has been found, the effects are far less marked than they 
otherwise are, the trees, apparently, becoming gradually adapted to 
the altered conditions. 
No definite connection has yet been found between the nature 
of the soil and the intensity of the action, but it does not appear 
to be governed by the richness of the soil. The case, alluded to 
above, in which the action has been nil, cannot be explained by 
any greater depth of soil into which the tree roots penetrate, thus 
getting away from the grass roots, for many of the trees have been 
lifted, and all have been found to have their roots near the surface. 
Spencer Pickering. (Gardener’s Chronicle Dec. 18. 1909 p. 409.) 
' n 
STRAITS REPORT. 
London , December '10th, igog. 
Beeswax: — Supplies during the past month have mpt a gppd 
demand at full rates. 
Camphor:— A quiet market. Sales of fair China at -T35/- to 
l36/6d. per cwt. 
Capsicums: — East Indian rather quiet. Red, light and long value 
2$/- to 30/-, yellow 32/6d. to 35/- per cwt. 
Cardamoms:— Have been in good request at firm to dearer rates ; 
good to fine bold 2/6d. to 3/- per lb. 
C/ows:— -Market has been very quiet, closing January to March at 
4 l 4 d» March to May, 4Jfd, 
