1 Dec., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 581 
General Notes. 
STERILISED MILK. 
What is regarded as a great advance in the sterilised milk trade is recorded 
by the Journal d’ Agriculture Pratique. The French National Society of 
Agriculture received recently a bottle of milk which had been sterilised for 
some months, and it was observed that there was no rise of cream to the 
higher part of the bottle, which was one of the chief objections to ordinary 
methods for sterilisation of milk. When milk is sterilised by being heated to 
boiling point or above, this treatment does not prevent the cream. from rising, 
and later, when it is to be employed, the cream must be mixed with the rest 
of the liquid, though, asa rule, the said cream is transformed into butter by 
shaking. The happy idea of re-emulsionising the sterilised milk by subjecting 
it to a pressure of 250 atmospheres, which pulverises the fatty globules, was 
hit upon. It has been observed that their diameter became less than thirty- 
nine-millionths of an inch, and that, finally, the globules cease to collect in the 
form of cream on the surface.—Eachange. 
GROWING ROOT CROPS. 
It is not advisable to grow different varieties of turnips, swedes, kale, and 
other yellow-flowering root crops near together, as, if they happen to bloom at 
the same time, bees may carry the pollen from one to the other and thus bring 
about cross-fertilisatiou.  - 
NATURE TEACHING. 
The Gardeners’ Chronicle says :—The Imperial Department of Agriculture 
for the West Indies has issued a text-book, entitled ‘‘ Nature Teaching,” based. 
upon the general principles of agriculture. This is prepared for the use of 
schools by Francis Watts, Government Analytical and Agricultural Chemist, 
Leeward Islands. According to the preface, the book is ‘an attempt to place 
in the hands of teachers, both in elementary and secondary schools, a well- 
selected but co-ordinate body of information suitable to West Indian conditions, 
to be supplemented in each case by numerous illustrations and experiments in 
which pupils themselves take an active part.” “Nature Teaching” treats of 
the seed, the root, the stem, and the leaf, each separately ; as regards their 
uses and structure both botanically and economically. There also chapters 
upon the soil, plant food, and manures, flowers and fruits, weeds, and insects. 
The book is clearly written, but it is not intended to be read through, but to be 
used as a guide by the teachers in training pupils to observe for themselves, 
and in endeavouring to give them an intelligent interest in the everyday facts of 
rural life, and is very well suited for the purpose. 
A NEW POTATO. 
There fis a so-called potato largely grown in the Soudan called the 
“Ousounyfy.” It is unknown in cold climates, but is a boon to dwellers in 
Central Egypt and the Soudan. The tubers are the size of a walnut, soft 
black in colour. The plant bears prolifically, and is a valuable food in hot 
countries. 
