Vol. VIII. No. 96. 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
[December, 1902.] 317 
AGRICULTURAL RETROSPECT. 
United Kingdom. — November opened with a spell of dry weather 
which gave the opportunity for steady progress in the sowing of wheat and 
other winter crops. This only lasted till the middle of the month, however, 
when a few days of severe frost were followed by a heavy downfall of rain, 
sufficient nearly everywhere to suspend field cultivation. Stockfeeders may 
be satisfied with their position in view of the winter. The prolongation of the 
feeding season in the open economised their stores of roots and hay, which 
are abundant, so that even if the winter should prove a long and severe one 
they will not be short of supplies, whilst their forage crops for spring use have 
made an excellent start. In addition, there is the prospect of cheap maize, 
due to the great size of this year’s crop in the United States ; and low 
quotations for maize have the effect of cheapening feeding cakes. 
A leaflet has been issued by the Board of Agriculture dealing with the 
disease of melons and cucumbers known as “ leaf blotch,” caused by the 
fungus Cercospora melonis. This is the most destructive parasite with which 
the cultivator of cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, etc., has to contend. In 
several cases growers report an annual loss of as much as ,£2,000, and in 
some instances the cultivation of cucurbitaceous plants has had to be 
abandoned. As to preventive measures, it is stated that if the foliage is 
fairjy hard the disease cannot assume the dimensions of an epidemic, 
and even if it does appear it can be kept well in hand by spraying. To 
accomplish this end a fair supply of air should be admitted, so that the 
atmosphere is not constantly saturated with moisture. It is wise to spray in 
anticipation of the disease, using a solution of potassium sulphide — two 
ounces to three gallons of water, adding two ounces of soft soap. It is very 
important that the under-surface of the leaves be thoroughly wetted with the 
solution. If the disease is present the soil should also be drenched with the 
solution. Diseased leaves should be removed and burned before they decay 
and fall to the ground. 
Many and varied improvements have been effected in connection with 
the dairying industry during the last quarter of a century, but little appears to 
have been done in the direction of improving the skill of the milker — that is, 
of the person who milks the cows. It is only lately that the idea has been 
grasped that a cow may be educated, as it were, into giving more milk, and 
that of better quality, if she is skilfully handled time after time by the milker. 
Properly-milked cows will keep up their flow of milk more readily than is the 
case with cows which are carelessly milked, and whose udders are not 
' thoroughly drained of milk at each time of milking ; the flow will, moreover, 
be maintained for a longer period. Careful milking, as thus understood, will 
steadily and permanently improve the individual cow as a milk producer. By 
properly manipulating the udder at the close of each milking the last traces of 
milk contained therein will be removed. Many cows yield the last part of 
their milk very slowly, and thin streams may usually be drawn for a 
considerable time after the full flow has ceased ; by a few manipulations of 
the udder this residual milk may be brought down in a couple of minutes’ 
time, and more milk will, as a rule, be obtained in this way than can be 
secured by the ordinary method of “ stripping.” Inasmuch as the milk thus 
obtained is very rich, being of the same character and composition as 
“ strippings,” the quantity of additional butter-fat is considerably greater than 
might be inferred from the volume of milk brought down. Originated in 
Denmark, this method of effectually completing the milking operation has 
been extensively tested at the Wisconsin agricultural experiment station. The 
investigations were made partly with cows in the station herd, and partly 
with cows in twelve different Wisconsin dairy herds. The aim in all cases was 
to ascertain the gain in the production of milk and of butter-fat obtained by a 
system of manipulations of the udder after the regular milking was finished. 
In the station herd the average daily production of milk from 24 cows was 
increased by 4*5 per cent, by means of the manipulation method, and the 
production of fat was increased by 9-2 per cent, as the result of a milking 
experiment continued for four weeks, the average gain in milk being 1 lb., 
and in fat 0*09 lb. per head per day. A similar average increase in production 
was obtained for the twelve dairy herds tested — a gain of ro8 lb. in the daily 
production of milk per cow, and 0*1 lb. of fat. The results arrived at in this 
investigation of dairy herds, extending over a period of four months, with 
cows in all stages of lactation, indicate that this gain is maintained throughout 
the whole milking period. The results of the investigation, which was 
conducted by Professor F. W. Woll, show that a thorough system of milking 
is essential to successful dairying ; for, apart from directly increasing the 
production of milk and fat from the cows, exhaustive milking is calculated to 
maintain a maximum flow of milk throughout the period of lactation, and to 
permanently develop the dairy qualities of both the dam and her offspring. 
The manipulations whereby the udder of the cow is completely emptied after 
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the full flow of milk has ceased are described and illustrated in the report, 
and they follow in the main the system devised by Dr. Hegelund in Denmark, 
where practical instruction is given in the method to milkers. As is well 
known, the British Dairy Farmers’ Association gives prizes in milking contests 
at its annual London show, and it would be useful to encourage the adoption 
of the udder-manipulation system amongst the competitors. A practical 
knowledge of the anatomy of the udder should also be imparted to them, in 
the same way as the anatomy of the horse’s foot is taught to shoeing smiths. 
County councils might aid this work. 
Colonies. — With the completion of the threshing operations in 
Manitoba and the North-West Territories, it is now ascertained that the 
estimate of the production of grain already published has been vastly exceeded. 
It is now officially stated that the total production of wheat has been 
64,283,434 bushels, averaging 24*35 bushels per acre; of oats, 49,500,000 
bushels; barley, 13,000,000 bushels. The whole crop has been saved in fine 
condition. Splendid weather has since been experienced, and autumn 
ploughing is far in advance of any past year. We have received from the 
Canadian Department of Agriculture a copy of a bulletin by Dr. Wm. Saunders, 
the Director of Experimental Farms, and Mr. F. T. Shutt, M.A., dealing with 
“ Clover as a fertiliser.” It sets forth the practical and convincing results 
which have been obtained at the Ottawa Experimental Farm in increased 
crops, by the ploughing under of green clover, which practice has been found 
to increase the crops for several successive seasons. The advantages of the 
operation are summarized as follows : (1) There is an enrichment of the soil 
by the addition of nitrogen obtained from the atmosphere; (2) there is an 
increase to the store of available mineral plant food (phosphoric acid, potash, 
and lime) in the surface soil, taken by the clover in part from depths not 
reached by the shallower root systems of other farm crops ; (3) There is a 
large addition of humus, whereby the soil is made more retentive of moisture, 
warmer and better aerated, conditions favourable to vigorous crop growth. 
Humus also furnishes the material best adapted for the development of those 
forms of germ life that act so beneficially in the soil ; (4) As an agent for 
deepening and mellowing soils, no crop gives such satisfactory results as 
clover ; (5) Clover also serves a useful purpose as a catch crop during the 
autumn months, when the ground would be otherwise bare, retaining fertilising 
material brought down by the rain, and also that formed in the soil during 
the summer months, much of which would otherwise be lost through the 
leaching action of rains ; (6) As shown conclusively by the particulars 
submitted, obtained by careful experiment over a number of years with 
the more important farm crops, the ploughing under of green clover has a 
most marked effect in increasing the soil’s productiveness. 
The Jamaica Gazette for November 4 contains the report of a speech 
before the Legislative Council by Mr. Sydney Olivier, Colonial Secretary and 
Acting- Governor of Jamaica, which gives a comprehensive survey of the 
present position of the colony. After pointing out that the general revenue 
for the six months ended September 30 was £404,4:15, or £32,792 more 
than the corresponding period last year — an improvement which really 
represents an increase of £50,000, or more than 14 per cent, in the half-year, 
owing to the inclusion in last year’s account of certain items not forming part 
of the actual yearly revenue — Mr. Olivier referred to the very satisfactory 
increase in the exports of the staple products. In the first nine months 01 
this year, compared with the similar period of 1901, there w*ere large increases 
in the exports of bananas, oranges, cocoanuts, coffee, pimento, dyewoods, etc. 
The improved situation was principally due to the great increase of the 
exports of fruit to America. This was evidence that it paid the island 
Treasury, as well as the community as a whole, to make good roads for that 
traffic to the shipping ports and the railway stations. Mr. Olivier then made 
some observations as to the condition of Jamaica and prevalent delusions 
about it. He believed that a careful consideration of the extent and condition 
of planting throughout the island, of the seasons in recent years, and of the 
prospects of crops and markets, would show no reason for supposing that any 
check in the volume and value of the exports was approaching. On the 
contrary, further advance might be expected with confidence. If so, increased 
investment in planting might be looked for, to the general benefit of all 
classes. An influx of visitors might also be expected in future winters, and 
this, although it could not be regarded as in itself a very important contribution 
to the building-up of prosperity, since that must depend upon productive 
intelligence and activity, and not upon the patronage of holiday seekers, 
would no doubt give an acceptable stimulus to the demand for local produce 
and services, and might result in some permanent investment and extension 
of agricultural and industrial enterprise. There were, however, certain 
deterrents to the investment of capital in planting, and to the advent of 
visitors, which, absurd and incredible as they might seem, were yet of really 
powerful influence both in Great Britain and in the United States. Mr. Olivier 
