Departmental Activities. Ill 



THE SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE AND EXPERIMENT 



STATIONS. 



GLEN, ORANuE FREE STATE. 



The Need to Fallow. — Exceptional rains were registered during 

 June, and farm work is in full swing. As this rain has been 

 fairly general throughout the Province it is hoped farmers will take 

 advantage of it and fallow the greater part of their maize lands for 

 next year. The natural tendency, when it rains at this time of the 

 year, is to sow as much wheat as possible. This practice cannot be 

 deprecated too strongly. To expect any measure of success all land 

 should be fallowed for some time before a crop is sown. As the latter 

 part of the summer was too dry for ploughing, the bulk of the wheat 

 will be sown on land as fast as it can be ploughed. This method is 

 only courting failure. 



The Maize Stalk-borer. — During the past season numerous 

 complaints were made of the ravages of this insect, and a note at the 

 present juncture may therefore be of interest. 



The important point in the life-history of the insect is that 

 during winter the caterpillars rest within the stumps, generally at the 

 base just below the surface of the soil ; they do not change into pupae 

 until about the end of September or the beginning of October, and it 

 is the moths derived from these over-wintered caterpillars that form 

 the nucleus of the infestation in the following sesi.tton. It is, there- 

 fore, of the utmost importance that measures be taken to destroy as 

 many of the caterpillars as possible. The ideal method of accomplish- 

 ing this is either to remove the plants, roots and all, at the time of 

 harvesting, or to remove all stumps later in the season. Maize plants 

 can be uprooted by means of a small plough set to draw a sb allow 

 furrow, or by means of the so-called maize-stump grubber. Maize 

 stumps should be pulled by hand some time during August and burned 

 in heaps. If the nature of the soil or a lack of labour does not permit 

 of pulling by hand, a maize-stump grubber may be used. The ques- 

 tion of maize stalk-borer control is discussed in detail in a publication 

 entitled " The Maize Stalk-borer," by C. W. Mally, and maize farmers 

 are urged to make a study of this. It may be procured from the 

 Department at a cost of Is. 6d. 



Special Dairy Course Successes at the Maritzburg Show. — Under 

 the supervision of the dairy staff the students attending the above 

 course manufactured butter and cheese for competition at the show 

 recently held in Maritzburg. Altogether two first prizes, two seconds, 

 and two thirds (tie in one class) were awarded to the Glen exhibits. 



At the Johannesburg Show a special dairy course Glen student 

 won the students' buttermaking competition, and also the open 

 championship (gold medal). An exhibit of dairy produce was also 

 staged at the Johannesburg Show (not for competition), the experts 

 remarking very favourably on the " finish " of the produce. 



The special dairy course at Glen offers suitable training for men 

 who desire to qualify for responsible positions in factory dairies. The 

 staff are fully qualified, the practical men having had considerable 

 experience in their respective subjects both in South Africa and over- 

 seas. The next dairy course will commence about the 11th October, 

 1922. For full particulars write to the Principal. 



