NEWS IN BRIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3038, 20 May 1926, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF.

Fressingland, in Suffolk, lias acquired a lire engine for 1/11, the cost of a telegram and confirmatory letter. A firm in the country advertised that it had no further use for the engine and offered to give it to the first genuine applicant. It is a mistake to suppose that the tip of the tongue is the most sensitive part of the body. Those engaged in polishing billiard balls, or any other substances that require a very high degree of smoothness, invariably use the cheek-bone as their touchstone for detecting any roughness. A pair of ancient soldier’s boots, which were found in a cupboard of a very old building in Bagskot Park, Surrey, England, weighed about 101 b. each, being made of the thickest hide, lined and padded, with very thick soles, and large rowelled spurs attached by steel chains. Out of nine young men who offered themselves as recruits for the army at Aldershot in one day, three were unable to read or write. All three were stalwart men of intelligent appearance, their ages ranging from 18i to 21 years. They were stated to be of respectable parentage, each being an only son, and having passed the fifth standard at school. A menacing lucerne disease of far-reaching importance to the growers of the king of fodder crops has just been recorded by the scientists of the Department of Agriculture for the first time in New South Wales. It is known as Stem nematode, or ell worm disease, from the fact that this nematode (Tylenchus dipsac), is responsible for the condition. A rather interesting “black cat” story is related by a well-known

resident of Invercargill, who vouches for its correctness, says an exchange. He states that recently a black cat made its appearance in the household and could not be persuaded to go away, returning each time it was driven off. Finally the woman of the house told one of the children to take the persistent animal away. The youngster took it as far as the front gate and dropped it into the street, where it almost landed on a new ten-shilling note! Nature generally makes compensations. Here’s a ease in point. The gum country in the North of Auckland is so poor in quality that the soil refuses to lend itself to agricultural operations. Yet this land so unsuitable for the growing of ordinary crops, is splendidly adapted for tobacco culture, in proof of which you have only to sample the really fine tobaccos now being manufactured from North Aucklandgrown leaf. These include “Riverliead Gold” a mild aromatic with a distinctive flavour, “Navy Cut” (Bulldog), medium strength, and “Cut Plug No. 10” (Bullshcad), full flavour. AH these tobaccos are toasted, a process that lias a good deal to do with their excellence, by the way. Another of their good points is that they may be smoked with impunity. That is because they contain but comparatively little nicotine. The success attending the culture of these tobaccos in what was formerly regarded as barren country is convincing growers that “there’s money in it.” The yield of leaf per acre represents £SO and often more.*