J24 



KARROO SOIL, LUCERNE AND THE OSTRICH. 



In all the numerous agricultural experimental stations in 

 Europe and the United States are well-equipped chemical 

 laboratories, in which continuously bio-chemical research is 

 carried on, the results of which, turned to use and applied 

 in practical agriculture, are in- the first place responsible for 

 the advanced state of all matters agricultural in those parts 

 ■of the world. 



In sunny South Africa, with its enormous tracts of land 

 suitable for agriculture, we have two or three Experimental 

 Agricultural Stations without chemical laboratories or with 

 •chemical laboratories inadequately equipped, in which no bio- 

 chemical research of any kind is carried on. Is it to be 

 wondered that we are in the dark and remain in the dark 

 • as to many questions bearing on the production of crops and 

 feeding of animals which are of the utmost importance to 

 our farmers ? We may not apply here in South Africa the 

 .results of research carried on under other climatic conditions 

 without modifications, but we do not know how far and in 

 what way these results must be modified. In illustration of 

 this I may refer to the fact that the percentage of nitrogenous 

 •constituents of plants greatly depends upon the sunshine 

 which the crops and plants generally had during their period 

 of vegetation. The Cinchona trees in the hothouses of Kew 

 contain no quinine, whereas in their sunny home on the 

 tropical Andes they produce large quantities of quinine. The 

 Hemlock grown on the sunny coast of the Mediterranean is 

 full of the poisonous nitrogenous Coniine, whereas the Hem- 

 lock grown in the Shetland Islands and in Norway is eaten 

 with impunity by cattle and is quite harmless. 



Similar obser'vatjons have been made in connection_ with 

 the production of albuminous constituents in crops cultivated 

 in a cold, cloudy, and in a warm, sunny climate. 



The late Mr. Stevenson made analyses of three samples of 

 lucerne procured through the kindness of Dr. Melle, Robert- 

 son. The? following results are taken verbatim from the 

 papers left by Mr. Stevenson: — 



