1 June, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 489 
THE POTATO IN NEW CALEDONIA. 
A correspondent of the Journal des Colonies, Marseilles, writes from 
Noumea: “We contribute to Australia for an article of prime necessity—the 
potato. In 1900 we received 1,441,189 kilos (141,545 tons). Thus, every 
year, 300,000 francs (about £12,500) are sent to our neighbour, who do not 
return them to us.” 
New Caledonia produces excellent potatoes. Why do the farmers not set 
to work and cultivate them ? 
To this the editor of the Journal d'Agricullure Tropicale replies, that the 
reason probably is, that in the tropical climate of New Caledonia (locally- 
grown) potatoes would be dearer than those brought from Australia, and he 
invites his readers to furnish precise information on the growth and yield of 
the potato in that colony. 
TICK-PROOF PERCHES. 
As poultry tick is plentiful in most of our farming districts, the matter of 
making the perches proof against tick is one of considerable importance. There 
is no doubt the most effective way is to build the poultry-house of galvanised 
iron, fastened on the inside of the posts and rails, or, where only a few fowls 
are kept, to set 8 feet or 9 feet iron about 6 inches or 9 inches in the ground, 
and draw them together at the top with a piece of ridgecapping, and swing the 
perches by wires from theroof. Many farmers and others do not feel disposed 
to go to this expense, and various devices are resorted to to keep the ticks from 
gaining access to the perches. One of the simplest and most effective of these 
has been sent to the editor by Mr. F. H. Pybus, of Port Augusta. The drawing 
Have Sit 
explains itself. The trap is very simply made by anyone who can use a solder- 
ing iron. Mr. Pybus fills the tin with kerosene, taking care that the string 
from the nail head is in the kerosene. He finds dead ticks occasionally in_the 
traps, probably taken up by the fowls. The perches can be fixed to anything 
convenient, and so long as the receptacle is replenished with kerosene once a 
week no ticks can climb on to the perches. ‘Ihe trap can, of course, be made 
any size that is convenient. 
The top figure shows the perch and tick-trap secured to two posts. The 
lower figure is a section through the perch, &c., showing details of construction. 
—NSouth Australian Journal of Agriculture. 
