214 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Sept., 1922. 



Citrus Manurial Experiments. — Important experiments have just 

 been laid down in co-operation with farmei^s in the Ivat River Valley 

 with a view to demonstrating the eft'ect of fertilizers supplying 

 nitrogen, potash, and phosphate singly and in combination with each 

 other. The effect on the trees of growing a green leguminous-manure 

 crop, with a dressing supplying potash and phosphorus, will also be 

 studied in comparison with the condition of trees receiving a complete 

 fertilizer, and also untreated trees. The orchard selected for this 

 experiment is laid out on a deep, fine sandy silt soil on the banks of 

 the Kat River. The soil is well drained, and there is no danger of 

 " brak." A further experiment will he carried out in another orchard, 

 the major portion of which has received kraal manure applied in pits 

 between the trees, but a portion not so treated has been reserved for 

 the purposes of experiment, and it will be possible to compare trees 

 which have received no fertilizer or manure for years with others 

 receiving complete artificial fertilizer, kraal manure alone, and kraal 

 manure plus a dressing of superphosphate and sulphate of potash. The 

 full results of this experment will be available only after the second 

 season or even longer, but they should produce valuable information 

 for citrus growers in the Eastern ProA'ince in regard to manurial 

 requirements. 



Veld Crazing. — It is proposed, with the co-operation of various 

 farmers in the Karroo area, to study the effect of grazing on vegeta- 

 tion by carefully recording the extent to which grazing has been 

 carried out, the season of the year during which certain areas have 

 been grazed off, and investigating the extent to which these two 

 factors affect the flora. 



Poultry. — The comparison which has now extended over a period 

 of eleven months between dry mash and wet mash for feediug has 

 indicated that birds fed on dry mash are again in full lay after 

 completing the moult, and the birds on this feed have laid 22 dozen 

 more eggs than those fed on wet mash, while the eggs produced are 

 of a larger size. Incubation results at the School have been eminently 

 satisfactory; fertility has been better than in previous years, and 

 results have shown hatchings of 95 per cent. 



The Kingwilliamstown Poultry Show was held on the 4th and 

 5th July, at which the entries showed a marked improvement on the 

 previous year. The progress made in the Utility White Leghorn 

 classes is particularly noteworthy, and is a general feature throughout 

 the Eastern Province. 



POTCHEFSTROOM, TRANSVAAL. 



Sudan Crass. — Sudan grass, if sown in October, with the first 

 spring rains, will germinate well and easily yield two heavy crops of 

 forage during the season. If intended for hay production, it is best 

 sown broadcast at the rate of 15 to 20 lb, per acre. The crop requires 

 to be sown thickly, otherwise the straw will be too coarse, and not so 

 suitable for feeding as that from crops sown at a heavier rate. It 

 is a fairly drought-resistant plant and deserves to be grown more 

 extensively in the drier areas of the Union. 



