Defahtmental Activities. 21' 



Depth of Ploughing. — The result of an experiment at this institu- 

 tion last season showed that land ploughed ten inches after the rains 

 in early summer gave a 20 per cent, better yield than land ploughed 

 four inches deep at the same time, and 7 per cent, better than land 

 ploughed seven inches deep. The experiment was carried out on a 

 sandy loam, and owing to the deficient rainfall the crops did not set 

 grain properly, and had to be harvested before properly mature, 

 the percentages above representing total weights of grain and semi- 

 dried stalk and leaf. Owing to these circumstances the individual 

 results varied considerably, but the general result reflected by crops 

 of sunflower, maize, and sorghum is as shown above, and since each 

 percentage represents an average of eighteen results, the figures may 

 be accepted with a fair degree of certainty for the conditions of the 

 experiment. 



ELSENBURG. MULDERS VLEI. 



Suffolk Down Rams for Sale. — Ten pure-bred Suffolk Down ram 

 lambs will be offered at our annual sale on 11th October. At present 

 they are gust under a year old. The best will tip the scale at 150 

 lb., which indicates they are very early maturing, well grown, and 

 very compact, combining excellent depth and width of body. They 

 will carry about 11 months' fleece at the time of the sale. The dams 

 of these yearling rams are typical specimens of the Suffolk Down 

 breed, being of good size, constitution, and development of mutton 

 qualities. It is regretted that so few Suffolk Down rams are 

 available for disposal, as the demand during the past few years has 

 always been in excess of our supply. Last year 22 guineas were 

 paid for a yearling Suffolk Down ram, the average price obtained 

 being 16 guineas. It is hoped that within the next few years from 20 

 to 30 rams at least will be available for disposal at our annual sales. 



In the production of cross-bred lambs for the early market, the 

 Suffolk has in recent years frequently won the highest honours at 

 the Smithfield Show, England. Elsenburg has won first prize with 

 Suffolk Merino cross-breds in both the lamb and wether classes at 

 the Hosebank Show. 



Experience shows that the practice of crossing the pure-bred 

 Suffolk (ram) on the ordinary Merino (ewe) is profitable. The lambs 

 are very early maturing, and are ready for disposal to the butcher 

 before grazing becomes scarce towards the end of the summer. 



Trees on Earthen Dam Walls. 



Trees are sometimes planted on earthen dam walls with the idea 

 that the roots of the trees will bind the soil together, and so prevent 

 the bank from wearing off too rapidly. Willow trees are often put 

 in, but this is a mistake, as the roots in growing into the bank make 

 miniature tunnels through the sail, and if these roots come to die 

 and decay, the channels are left, and the water has a better chance 

 than ever to get through the wall. Vegetation should certainly be 

 encouraged on dam walls, but only small stuff, the roots of which do 

 not go deeply into the soil. Small bush and grass is better than large 

 trees. 



