oO Joru.vAL or the 1)epartmekt of A(iRicrLTURE. — July, 1922. 



Chinese Lucerne. — The last cutting- was made on the 17th May, 

 certain outstandino- phints excepted, which were not cut because it 

 was desired to see how tliey would stiuid frost. Several of them were 

 still unharmed on the 24th May. 



Potatoes. — The yields of the varieties Early j^ug'get and 

 J*]picure this season were 3040 lb. and 11,600 lb. per acre respec- 

 tively. The seed wns obtained from Scotland. 



Potatoes and Tuber Moth.— It was observed in dig-g-ing potatoes 

 this month that they were badly attacked by the " tuber moth." 

 Potatoes from the same land, lifted in February, were practically 

 free from this pest : this would seem to point to the necessity of 

 very thoroughly earthing up potatoes that are to be left in the 

 ground for some time after reaching maturity. 



Irrigation Plot Experiments. — The Assistant Director of Irriga- 

 tion (Mr. Herdman) inspected the plots on the first of the month. 

 Such good progress has been made with the work that it has been 

 possible to give 2G0 of the plots their first irrigation, preparatory 

 to seeding them with the " uniformity" test crop. A great feature 

 in this experimental work will l)e the measurement of the water 

 applied in irrigation. 



Water Pipes. — Wherever frost is severe, as in the Karroo, it 

 is now desirable to protect water pipes to prevent bursts. This is 

 very effectively done by Avrapping round the pipe a 4-inch wide strip 

 of sacking or hessian Avherever it is exposed above ground. Burst 

 pipes may temporarily be repaired by wrapping several layers of 

 1-inch linen tape, previously painted with white lead, red lead, or 

 ordinary paint. It is also helpful to put a layer of paint on the 

 crack — which is usually possible if the water pressure is not too 

 great — and more paint on the tajie as it is wu-apped round. A narrow 

 strip of linen is a good substitute for linen tape in the above- 

 described operation. 



Agricultural Implements. — Mowers, reapers, and binders, and 

 other implements which are not used during the winter months are 

 now profitably overhauled, cleaned, and repainted, so as to be ready 

 for next season. All bearings and moving parts should be thoroue'hly 

 oiled so as to jirevent rusting during the period of non-use. When 

 the weather is hot, iron can often be bent without artificial heating. 

 It is not advisable thus to try to bend iron in tlie winter time, for 

 breakages are very likely to occur. 



Bathurst Experiment Station. — Favourable rains fell between 

 7th and 13th — in all, 3 inches. Hows of not less than 1250 varieties, 

 selections, and cross-bred wheats have been sown, and more than 

 half of them are already up. Superphosphate at the rate of 300 lb. 

 per acre was applied with the seed. Old mealie lands were fallow- 

 ploughed for summer crops. 



