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



to explain, but is probably due to the fact that, owing to favourable 

 climatic conditions, in addition to the hatching- of the eg^s that were 

 laid by the swarms that escaped destruction in 1920-21, the eggs that 

 were deposited the previous season and did not get sufficient rain 

 to hatch them out during- last season, also hatched out during the 

 present season. 



Shortage of Poison. 



The temporary shortage of poison which occurred in the latter 

 part of November was most regrettable, the more so as it unfortu- 

 nately occurred at a most critical time. The blame for this shortage, 

 however, cannot be laid entirely at the door of this Department, as, 

 according to the information in its possession in regard to egg 



Voetgangers at Strydenburg. 



deposits, the Department was justified in estimating that with the 

 poison left over from the previous campaign in the various depots in 

 the districts, and the stock in the main depot at Bloemfontein, it was 

 fully prepared for a campaign of a size proportionate to the egg-laying 

 that has been reported to have taken place. 



The information in its possession in regard to egg-deposits, which, 

 had it not been for the locust officers, would have been even less than 

 it was, did not, however, nearly reflect the true position. Voetgangers 

 were hatched out in myriads in one district after another from which 

 no reports regarding egg-deposits had been received. The farmers 

 themselves must, therefore, accept a large proportion of the blame for 

 the temporary shortage of poison in that they neglected to report the 

 egg-laying that had taken place on their farms and so enable the 



