202 JOUENAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. SePT., 1922. 



The Diseases of Stock Act. 



AVith a view to assistino> farmers in coiiiplyin,^' with the principal 

 Acts and Reg-ulations adnnnistered by the Department, it is proposed 

 to publish in the Journal a short resume of each, particularly in so 

 far as tbcy affect the farmer and the pr.rt he is called upon to carry 

 out in their observance. The first of the series is published in this 

 issue of the Journal, nnd deals with the Disenses of Stock Act, 1911, 

 find its principal re<?ulations. One of the early duties of the Union 

 Government was to consolidate and amend the laws then in force for 

 the prevention of disease aniorg- stock, and in view of its importance 

 in a pastoral country, the Act now operating? may well be repfarded by 

 all stock owners in the Union as their charter, to be administered by 

 them nnd for them. It is trusted that nil will read the resume and 

 become acquainted with the scope of the Act. One thing- that is 

 clearly apparent throug-hout is the duty of the farmer to report any- 

 thinjy untoward in the condition of his stock. If each farmer were 

 imbued with sufficient public spirit to regard himself as a potential 

 administrator of the reerulations, contaiifious diseases would soon dis- 

 appear. For it is not the penalties of the law that the Government 

 relies upon to clean the country of the pests that beset it, but the 

 whole-hearted support and co-operation of the farming* comnninity. 



The Export Trade in Oranges. 



In a recent report from the Trade Commissioner mention was 

 made of an improvement compared with the earlier shipments in the 

 standard of oranges expoited from South Africa, but the condition 

 of some was animadverted upon. One mark of oranges that was 

 specially examined had scarcely a fruit that was not free from 

 external blemish. While some of these blemishes may have 

 developed during the voyage, this cannot have been the only reason, 

 but the result is the same — an exceedingly bad advertisement for 

 South African fruit. This is most regrettable, particularly in view 

 of the competition that our fruit is meeting from Australian oranges, 

 which show a high quality, and are well graded, being uniform in 

 size and colour. Some of the leading brokers, indeed, are already 

 speaking of the superiority of the Australian over the South African 

 navel. It may be pointed out that at the time the report was 

 written a consignment of our navels that had arrived in excellent 

 condition was fetching from 18s. to 20s. per case, while Australian 

 navels, notwithstanding their somewhat unattractive packing, were 

 realizing about 25s. for counts of 05 to 200. But this competition 

 need not be feared if our exporters will ship the best fruit according 

 to the reiterated advice of the Department. 



Do not lose your copy of the Journal. A full index will be pent 

 subscribers every six months. The Jovrnal will prove a useful book 

 of reference to every farmer. In time it will be a valuable com- 

 pendium of advice and information on farming in South Africa. 



