Notes . 201 



Pise-de-terre : The Cheap Construction of Farm 

 Buildings. 



Farm buildings to house animak, implements, produce, etc., as 

 well as those for human occupation, are essentials in good farming 

 practice, but the great increase in the cost of building materials and 

 of labour during the war, and its continuing- high level, have con- 

 fronted many farmers with the alternatives of either suspending 

 building construction wherever possible until prices are within their 

 means or of turning to a form of construction less costly than what 

 thev would ordinarily employ. It was with a view, therefore, to 

 assist farmers in the latter direction that an article was published in 

 the A.T)ril. 1922, issue of the Journal on pise-de-terre, a system of 

 building by means of compressed earth, and one that has come down 

 through the centuries as a cheap, yet efficient, form of construction. 

 Those who wish to employ this system, and with it the mnterials and 

 labour at hand on the farm, should read the article, together with the 

 one published elsewhere in this issue. Both are written by Mr. Aird, 

 the Engineer of the School of Agriculture, Cedara, and the latter (by 

 means of illustrations and a set of the questions usually made by 

 prospective constructors and the replies thereto) gives additional 

 information that should prove useful ; it includes also a general 

 specification of a pise-de-terre building. While the scheme is simple, 

 its success depends chiefly on suitablp soil and shuttering and proper 

 workmanship. These are carefully disci^ssed by Mr. Aird. Where 

 difficulties are met or doubt exists, however, in regard to any points 

 connected with the construction of these pise-de-terre buildings, 

 farmers are invited to apply for advice to the School of Agriculture 

 serving the area in which they are resident. 



Nagana and the Tartar Emetic Solution. 



_ Investigations into the disease known as Nagana, which is enzoo- 

 tic in areas of Zululand, where the tsetse fly is found, are being prose- 

 cuted by the Department. Reference is made in this issue of the 

 Journal to the progress of the investigations of Mr, Harris, of the 

 Division of Entomology, into the life-history, etc., of the tsetse fly, 

 while last month a report was published regarding the work done by 

 Mr. Curson, the Veterinary Eesiearch Officer, who was sent to Zulu- 

 land in April. 1921, and is still engaged in investigating Nagana in 

 cnt+le and other domesitic animals. Realizing that a specific for the 

 disease was not available, a form of palliative treatment was decided 

 upon, and after preliniinary tests, Mr. Curson instituted the tartar 

 emetic treatment. This method of dealing with the disease is 

 described by Mr. Curson in an article published elsewhere 

 in this issue, as well as the symptoms and course of Nagana. As far 

 as our present knowledg-e goes, Mr. Curscn rpcommends this treatment 

 for several reasons. The mnterials are easily and cheaply procured, 

 and in reliable hands can safely be administered. Stock owners in the 

 affected parts are warned of the importance of early diagnosis. If 

 blood smears are negative, and yet the first indications of Nagana are 

 present, the tartar emetic treatment should be commenced with nil 

 expedition ,_ 



