296 JOUKJS'AL OF THE DePAKTMENT OF AcaflCLLTURE. OcT., 1922. 



The l)nll('tin (lisciis.ses ilie fieoloyical origin of the soils -.iiid dnta 

 on tlieir i)hysical and clieniieal coni])osition, and their deticiencies and 

 treatment. Tlie \\liole snbject of soil fertility is also dealt \vith, and 

 will he of general interest to all farmers in the Union. 



The soils wore also tested biorhemically for their powers of nitri- 

 fication, and were iound to lie vci y deficient in phosphates, and Mr. 

 Hall is of the opinion thit an a])plicatiori of phos{)hates will 1 e profit- 

 able anywhere in this granitic area; it extends from tli:> eastern 

 escar])nient of the Drakenslung. westward to the Lebondx) Mountains, 

 and soutii from the vicinity of Piet Eetief right up n(ntir-,\-ards to 

 Leydsdorj) and the [jetaba liiver, and again to westward of the last- 

 mentioned places. Some of the soils too are deficient in organic 

 matter and nitrogen. Some have a low potash content, unusual in soils 

 of granitic origin. On Uic olhei hand the soils which arc low in 

 lime content did uot have an acid reaction for the most ])art, the 

 highest lime requirement according to the Yciicli ^Icthod being 

 2455 lb. per acre of carbonate of lime 



The use of 2()0 to 400 lb. of phosphates ])er acre is recoiinnended 

 for all cro])s on these granitic soils. On some soils 50 to 100 lb. of 

 sulphate of pot-ish per acre are also likely to be profitable. This should 

 be ascertained ])y trial. For lime loving crops an ap])licati(jn of 

 500 to 1000 lb. of limestone ])er acre would also be necessary. The 

 growing of legumes should be a regulai practice, and the dwellers 

 in those parts are })articularly fortunate, being able to grow botli 

 winter and summer legnmes to keep up tiie organic matter and nitio- 

 geu content of their soils. Although nitiification appears ((uite good 

 there must be some orgauic matter for the bacteiia to nitrify. 



The bulletin contains some valuable tables showing what the 

 various crops take out ( f the soil; the fertilizei- ])ractice of various 

 countries with regard to })roducing cjuantity and quality in semi- 

 tropical fruits; and fertilizer mixtures. The latest fertilizer advice, 

 straight from the directors of the citrus experiment statiors in 

 California and Florida, is given, and Mr. Hall is of the opinion that 

 the Florida results are more applicable to Barherton and South 

 African conditions generally than the Californian, as the latter soils 

 aie much licher in })hos])hates than ours. 



Altogether the bulletin contains very valuable infoi'mation on 

 s(mie of the soil ty])es of South Africa and is well \\<Hth the careful 

 attention of farmers. 



Wood-Destroying Fungi in the Orchard. 



Attention is directed to a Science liulletin," jVo. 25, just issued 

 by the Department, and entitled " The Biology of SchizopJii/Jhnii 

 coiiir/nme, Fries, with Special Eeferejice to its Parasitism." It Is 

 written by Mr. Putterill of the Division of Botany, and records the 

 in^•estigalions carried out by him on this fungus, the object in view 

 being lo obtain further data respecting its mode of life, and whether 

 it might be cojisidered a true parasite or not. A brief account of 

 the occurrence of this fungus is given in the iiotes furnished by Mr. 

 Putterill under the heading of " Plant Diseases in the Western 

 Province," published elsewhere in this issue. 



* Obtainable on application to tin's office. Price :-^il. prepaid, 



