Varietal identification plays a pivotal role in viticulture for several purposes. Nowadays, such identification is accomplished using ampelography and molecular markers, techniques requiring specific expertise and equipment. Deep learning, on the other hand, appears to be a viable and cost-effective alternative, as several recent studies claim that computer vision models can identify different vine varieties with high accuracy. Such works, however, limit their scope to a handful of selected varieties and do not provide accurate figures for external data validation. In the current study, five well-known computer vision models were applied to leaf images to verify whether the results presented in the literature can be replicated over a larger data set consisting of 27 varieties with 26 382 images. It was built over 2 years of dedicated field sampling at three geographically distinct sites, and a validation data set was collected from the Internet. Cross-validation results on the purpose-built data set confirm literature results. However, the same models, when validated against the independent data set, appear unable to generalize over the training data and retain the performances measured during cross validation. These results indicate that further enhancement have been done in filling such a gap and developing a more reliable model to discriminate among grape varieties, underlining that, to achieve this purpose, the image resolution appears to be a crucial factor in the development of such models.

The sheep farming has economic and sociocultural importance in semi-arid regions worldwide. Of the total of 1.2 billion sheep in the world, 0.4 are found in semi-arid regions. In this review, we have discussed the main risk factors for neonatal lamb mortality and its association with the prevailing environmental conditions of tropical semi-arid regions. Over the last decades, the average mortality rate of newborn lambs remained relatively constant (~15%) around the world. This rate is reported to be higher (Up to 30%) in small-scale sheep farming systems from developing countries. Overall, the main risk factors of neonatal mortality include low birth weight, dystocia, adverse weather conditions, inadequate milk, or colostrum supply, competition between siblings in multiple births, and poor expression of maternal behaviour. In tropical semi-arid regions, recent findings revealed that newborn lambs from hair coat sheep breeds are less vigorous to perform the first suckling when even exposed to moderate cold conditions (18–20°C). On the other hand, the high radiant heat load in these areas can also challenge the thermoregulation of ewes and newborn lambs, especially if they are kept in areas without protection against direct short-wave solar radiation. Under such circumstances, newborn lambs were reported to be hyperthermic. The heat stress as risk factor for neonatal lamb mortality is a topic that deserves more investigation, particularly in tropical semi-arid areas, where is expected to be drier and hotter as consequence of rapid advances in climate change.

In pasture-based dairy production systems, identifying the appropriate stocking rate (SR; cows/ha) based on the farm grass growth is a key strategic decision for driving the overall farm business. This paper investigates a number of scenarios examining the effects of SR (2–3 cows/ha (0.25 unit changes)), annual nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates (0–300 kg N/ha (50 kg/ha unit changes)), soil type (heavy and a free-draining soil) and agroclimate location ((south and northeast of Ireland) across 16 years) on pasture growth and forage self-sufficiency using the pasture-based herd dynamic milk model merged with the Moorepark St Gilles grass growth model. The modelled outputs were grass growth, grass dry matter intake, silage harvested and offered, overall farm forage self-sufficiency and N surplus. The model outputs calculated that annual grass yield increased from 9436 kg DM/ha/year when 0 kg N/ha/year was applied to 14 996 kg DM/ha/year when 300 kg N/ha/year were applied, with an average N response of 18.4 kg DM/kg N applied (range of 9.9–27.7 kg DM/kg N applied). Systems stocked at 2.5 cows/ha and applying 250–300 kg N fertilizer/ha/year were self-sufficient for forage. As N input was reduced from 250 kg N/ha/year, farm forage self-sufficiency declined, as did farm N surplus. The results showed that a reduction in N fertilizer application of 50 kg/ha/year will require a reduction in an SR of 0.18 cows/ha to maintain self-sufficiency (R2 = 0.90).

In order to investigate the characteristics of inverted cassava plantings, seven-node cuttings were planted upright or inverted, and such that four nodes of each cutting were within the soil in a glasshouse. They were observed for 7 weeks. The inverted cuttings sprouted less rapidly, but the percentage of the cuttings which eventually sprouted was not decreased. The inverted cuttings produced more sprouts than the upright ones, and a greater percentage of their sprouts were produced below ground than for the upright cuttings. At 5 and 7 weeks, the total leaf area per cutting was less for the inverted cuttings. The number of leaves per cutting did not differ between the treatments.

In a field experiment comparing upright and inverted stem pieces, field emergence and tubering were slower in the inverted cuttings. Yield per plant and per unit area was significantly lower for the inverted cuttings. In the upright planting, most of the tubers originated at the lowest extremity of the cutting and formed a compact bunch there. For the inverted planting, most of the tubers arose from the shallower-lying submerged nodes, but the tubers did not form a compact bunch. The inverted planting had a lower percentage of its tubers lying along the ridge. In a few of the inverted plantings, but not in the upright, the bases of some stems became tuberous. The treatments did not differ with respect to mean tuber length, radius of spread of the tuber tip, and the number of major stems per plant.

Maize (Zea mays L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were grown in five seasons, beginning in the long rains 1990 and ending in the short rains 1992, at Kiboko, Kenya under a range of different management conditions (N fertilization, irrigation, population density and intercropping). Seed weight was plotted against total dry weight to determine harvest index for both crops. For bean the intercept of this relationship for each experiment, with one exception, was not significantly different from zero, so that the slopes of the regressions were the harvest indices. Harvest indices for bean varied more between seasons (0·38–00·85) than from the effects of management practices (00·53–0·71). Over all seasons and treatments, the index for bean did not vary systematically with crop weight, and averaged 0·50. By contrast, a similar analysis for maize over all seasons and treatments, showed that the harvest index varied with crop dry weight, approaching an asymptotic value as dry weight increased. The regression intercepts for the different experiments were significantly different from each other, and in three cases differed significantly from zero. Therefore, although the slopes for the different experiments were parallel, they did not always represent the harvest index.

1. A method of moderate accuracy suitable for the routine determination of potash on a large scale is described.

2. Certain minor alterations in the method of precipitation by Lewis & Marmoy are suggested.

3. Di-sodium monohydrogen phosphate is suggested as a solvent for the cobaltinitrite precipitate before the permanganate titration, thereby simplifying previous volumetric procedures.

The writer wishes to express his indebtedness to the Director of Malacca Rubber Plantations for permission to publish this work. Acknowledgement is also made of the routine work so loyally carried out by his Asiatic staff in the development of the method, especially Messrs Warrior and Thamboo, who were chiefly responsible.

Studies of leaf area estimate of some oil crops were made using planimeter measurement, punch borer and length × width × factor. The extent of sample variation depended on the variety in each of these methods; the last two methods were found to be simple, precise and less time consuming.

Statistical experiments were made to ascertain the effect of variations in applied soluble phosphate on the growth of Milan Strap-leaved Purple Top Turnips in a light gravel soil already containing sufficient available phosphate, and in a fen soil possessing an inadequate supply of available phosphate, as aggregates for growth.

No adverse effect on yield, calculated as fresh or dry matter of tops, roots, or whole plants, was suffered in either soil at any of the stages of growth considered at the highest concentrations of soluble phosphate, unlike the behaviour of this turnip when grown in a pure sand containing no clays or humates, where there was a narrow optimum range of phosphorus at a low concentration. The gravel soil occupied an intermediate position, however, between sand with its low optimum range of soluble phosphorus, and fen soil, where positive response to increasing concentrations of soluble phosphorus approached the ‘normal’, and thus there was a range of phosphorus at low concentration tending to a maximum yield followed generally by a greater numerical yield at the highest concentrations of phosphorus.

At the seedling stage in gravel soil variation in applied phosphate had absolutely no statistical effect on yield, moisture content of tops, roots and whole plants, and the ratios, for fresh or dry matter, Top/Root, Root/(Whole plant) and (Whole plant)/ Top.

1. The relationship of semen age to conception rate was studied at two artificial-insemination centres and a subcentre of one of these. Data relating to 50,213 first inseminations were included in the analysis.

2. It is shown that external conditions can affect the rate of decrease of conception rate with semen age.

3. Records giving c.r.'s for each day of semen age may reveal centre differences that cannot be detected in records giving mean c.r.'s only.

4. Information may be lost if data are grouped by months rather than recorded by collections.

5. The rate of decrease should not be used for comparing centres until the various factors affecting it (e.g. breed differences) are more fully understood. Further investigations should not be limited to one centre.

The purpose of this note is to present the results of the analysis of a series of experiments for the existence of interactions between treatments tested and blocks. It is implicit in all modern designs which involve confounding and/or fractional replication that such interactions are negligible compared with the effects and interactions which the experiments are designed to estimate. The matter has been discussed from the theoretical point of view in a recent paper on confounding and fractional replication (Kempthorne, 1947). This note will consist of a short statement of the problem and the results of an examination of a series of experiments on sugar beet which provide information on the point in question.

A deterministic model for the spread of an important animal disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), is described. It is a sparse three-pool model, the pools corresponding to susceptible, infected and sick animals. Simulations illustrate the biological meaning of the parameters, and pinpoint how parameters affect epidemic characteristics: infectivity impacts on the leading edge of the epidemic and its intensity. The times when infection is introduced and when control is exercised determine the length and possibly the intensity of the epidemic. Finally, the (single) incubation rate influences the trailing edge of the epidemic. It is applied to data describing the recent UK BSE outbreak, with reasonable success. Apart from a scaling factor, only these four quantities were adjusted to achieve this. The contributions from greater modelling complexity are discussed. It is concluded that the simple model is well suited for grasping the essentials, whereas further detail is needed for a more mechanistic representation, in particular concerning incubation delays in developing infectiousness and clinical sickness.

Sheep were used to study the utilization of low quality native hay supplemented with urea by different methods. Urea supplement was fed either once daily or twice daily or the same quantity of urea used to spray the hay before feeding. These treatments were compared with basal and groundnut cake based supplemented controls. An attempt was made to balance both the mineral and energy intakes. The provision of extra nitrogen in the form of either urea or groundnut cake resulted in improved weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. Feeding of urea-sprayed hay marginally improved live-weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion over the other methods of urea supplementation. Dry-matter digestibility and nitrogen retention were increased and urinary nitrogen excretion reduced by feeding the urea-sprayed hay.

In two experiments, 192 individually penned pigs were given diets containing 900 g barley/kg together with either 100 g dried microbial cells (DMC)/kg or 100 g white fish meal (WFM)/kg, and grown from 23 to 60 kg live weight. In Expt 1 rationing was by live weight and there was no difference between diets for feed used or live weight gained. In Expt 2, pigs were rationed by time and those fed diet DMC grew 15 g/day slower than those fed diet WFM, and their carcasses were of lower specific gravity.

The present paper reports the results of experiments which were carried out to obtain information on the types and amounts of the common foodstuffs which should be included in a ration for the prevention of avitaminosis A in swine. The actual vitamin A requirement of swine in terms of carotene was also investigated.

Ten different diets were used and three animals were placed on each. Seven of these diets produced the classical symptoms of avitaminosis A in the animals, two contained minimal or just subminimal amounts of the vitamin, while one appeared to permit storage.

The rations on which the symptoms of avitaminosis A did not appear included maize meal and alfalfa meal. Both these foodstuffs, however, have been shown to produce undesirable effects in the animals at the levels at which they must be fed to prevent the onset of the disease symptoms.

The development of a community may rightly be said to be reflected in its meat requirements. Primitive peoples are quite satisfied as long as their bulk needs are met, irrespective of quality. This condition may fairly be said to be representative of most of Africa today. A more developed community demands meat of high quality from young and properly finished animals, and this is the I'equirement of the European and emergent African communities, a steadily rising demand which must be met from within the Continent if possible.

Pods of white lupin are characterized by a high proportion of pod walls in the pod mass at maturity. Genotypic variation in pod wall thickness at maturity and in proportion of pod walls has been described in this species. The objective of this study was to describe the pod and seed development in two ecotypes and one cultivar of spring-sown white lupin differing in proportion of pod walls, and to estimate the precise stage of development when the differences in pod wall dry matter among genotypes are first observed. The nitrogen content was also determined during the pod development of three genotypes. LA356, E084 and Lublanc were grown in the field in the UK and France in 1998 and 1999. The duration of pod and seed development was similar among genotypes and environmental conditions. Proportion of pod walls by dry weight at maturity were 0·21–0·23 for LA356, 0·27–0·28 for E084 and 0·30 for Lublanc. The ecotype with the lowest proportion of pod walls accumulated less dry matter in the pod walls than those with the highest proportion.

Variation in pod wall dry matter per seed between genotypes was observed early during the pod development (300°C days from flowering) and it was maintained during all pod development. No significant differences were observed for the total nitrogen content at maturity among genotypes with high and low proportion of pod walls.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a crop of great antiquity which is widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, South and North America and to some extent in Russia for edible oil and for animal feed purposes. The average yield in India is only about 235 kg/ha. Even under good management practices the seed yields usually remain poor and, therefore, commercial prospects of sesame production are not good.

1. The structure of the cattle population (4 June returns), as well as of cattle sales to the Ministry of Food, have been illustrated.

2. The trends in cattle production show the definite changes from that of the traditional storestock rearing to that of milk selling.

3. A considerable part (38·2%) of the total graded animals slaughtered for beef are the ‘wastage’ animals from the breeding and dairying herds.

4. Reference has also been made to the high proportion of ungraded cows (36·7% of the total cows) purchased by the Ministry. The ungraded cattle, however, are only 17% of the total sales. On the other hand, the ungraded ‘wastage’ cattle contribute 90% of the total ungraded cattle.

5. More heifers than steers were sold for slaughter, and it has been shown that the average live weight of the graded steers is nearly 224 lb. heavier than that of the heifers.

Ferrous iron is oxidized and precipitated as iron ochre in field drains. In drainage waters taken from an ochre-producing site near Aberdeen, Scotland in 1987, iron deposition was inhibited by the addition of humic and fulvic acids, which form complexes with Fe(II). The inhibition was dependent on the concentrations of soluble humic materials and the proportion of Fe complexed. Iron deposition in the presence of humic substances is discussed in relation to the amount of the cation which is complexed and its oxidation state.