Departmental Activities. 401 



Cotton Breeding. — At the Enstenburg' Experiment Station the 

 selected seed plot of three acres (>'ave lint averag'ing- l^V inch, while 

 the remainder of the crop ranged between l^V to 1^ inch, 

 and the report on the grade was good. The variety was Improved 

 Bancroft. This shows conclusively what will he done when a plant 

 breeder can devote his whole time to the improvement of the cotton 

 crop. Mr. Pullen, wlio is at present specializing in the study of 

 cotton breeding, will have charge of this line of work, when he has 

 completed his studies. 



Wild Fire. — Complaints are already being received of attacks 

 of wild fire in tobacco. If this disease continues to spread, the neces- 

 sity of sterilizing* the seed before sowing, as announced by this Divi- 

 sion more than a year ago, will be forced upon us. 



British Cotton Crowing Association Competition. — The following 

 are the winners of the British Cotton (Irowing Association's competi- 

 tion for the best fields of cotton grown during 1920-21 : — 



THE SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE AND EXPERIMENT 



STATIONS. 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG (CAPE). 



Annual Sale, Crootfontein. — The annual sale of pedigree stock 

 was held on the 15tli September last. The prices obtained were 

 generally speaking, somewhat better than had been anticipated in 

 view of the present depression, and the main feature of the sale was 

 the prices obtained for Tasmanians and Wanganellas. One Wanga- 

 nella stud ram, sired by Elsenburg Admiral, was purchased foi' the 

 sum of £140. Only on one previous occasion has a liigher price been 

 obtained for a ram. The demand for Karakuls was not too good, 

 although from recent reports there would appear to be good prospects 

 of a trade in skins developing with the United States and Canada, 

 while there is also a possibility of an export trade developing in these 

 sheep. 



The Friesland bull, Groottontein Alfonso, sired by Craigie Alf, 

 was sold for £195, which is considered a bargain. The total realized 

 was £1882. 10s., which compares favourably with the sale for 1921, 

 when a larger number of stock was sold. 



