34^ AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 



When I started holding meetings among the farmers in the 

 Transvaal, the field-cornets were notified that the statistician 

 would visit their wards for that purpose, and to give him all the 

 assistance possible. Arriving at a certain field-cornet's house, I 

 introduced myself, saying that I was the statistician ; whereupon 

 he said, " Well, I never! I could not make out what sort of a 

 thing the statistician was, and did not like to betray my ignorance 

 by asking." Jokingly, he said he thought it was a kind of pig 

 without hair. 



One man in all seriousness asked his field-cornet whether it 

 was something new that was imported into the country. The 

 field-cornet asked him to explain himself, when he said, " Well, 

 something that is imported in tins !" 



Yet another was under the impression that it was some new 

 bacteriological creature discovered by Dr. Theiler. 



They were all surprised that it was a man who could address 

 them in their own language on a subject quite new to them, but 

 whom, after explanations, they hailed with delight. 



In conclusion, I trust that my endeavour, however weak, may 

 bear fruit in suggesting some new idea, and that it may be of some 

 guidance in the future as regards statistics in this country. I ven- 

 ture to say that the matter is of such importance that there is no 

 necessity for excuse in bringing it forward. Every little time 

 devoted to this is given to a good cause. 



Ozone in Natural Waters. — The Chemiker Zei- 



tung records the occurrence of ozone in springs near Monte 

 Arniata (Italy), whose radio-activity was being investigated. A 

 phosphorus-like odour of the water has now been traced to ozone. 

 The water contains ferrous carbonate, which in oxidation, prob- 

 ably produced hydrogen peroxide, and it is presumed that this, 

 in the presence of organic substances, gives rise to ozone. 



