402 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — IN'ov., 1922. 



Export of Eggs. — Great strides have been made in the poultry 

 industry in the past few years in the area served by the School, and 

 it is gratifying- to note the attention given to utility l)irds. The 

 movement m tJie dii'ection of poultry exchanges is one which should 

 go a long way to building the industry on a sound foundation. 



The 21th September marks a distinct advancement from the 

 economic standpoint, for on that day the trial consignment of 101 

 cases of eggs was shipped from Port EhVabelh to the United Kingdom. 

 It was inspected by Mr. A. Owen-John, Lecturer in Poultry at Groot- 

 fontein, who also superintended the transfer to the cold chamber in 

 the " Arundel Castle." The consignment showed a very good 

 standard, and a test examination made after the cases had been put 

 on board encourages the hope that on arrival in Ijondon, the eggs 

 will be in excellent condition. If this consignment is well reported 

 on there is every prospect of a considerable development in the export 

 trade as far as the Eastern Province is concerned. 



Ostrich Feather Industry. — In view of the serious state of the 

 ostrich feather industry, every endeavour is being made to assist 

 ostrich farmers in perfecting organizations with a view to promoting 

 and fostering the oversea market for featheis. In this connection 

 it is hoped to organize a tour through the ostrich farming area to 

 assist in the scheme which has been put forward by the farmers in the 

 Oudrshoorn district, under which an active campaign to popularize 

 the ostrich feather is contemplated. 



Steynsburg Wool Growers' Association. — A further step in the 

 organization of the wool industry was achieved when, at a meeting 

 of the Steynsburg Farmers' Association, held on the 13th September, 

 a resolution was unanimously passed in favour of the formation of a 

 woo] growers' association. Mr. R. W. Thornton and Mr. D. P. 

 Mellet, the Government Sheep Expert for the District, attended, and 

 delivered addresses on the need for organization and the advantages to 

 be derived from the formation of such an association. A provisional 

 committee was formed comprising a representative from each ward 

 in the District. 



Chinese Lucerne. — On the 2Glli August the first crop of Chinese 

 lucerne was obtained. These plots are now (25th September) ready 

 to be cut a second time this season, whereas most of the other varieties, 

 such as Russian, Provence, Grimm, etc., are not yet ready for the 

 first cutting. That it is desirable to talce the first cutting as early 

 as possible in si)ring can readily be seen from the accompanying 

 photographs :—Xo. 1 shows a stool of Chinese lucerne which was 

 left uncut when the majority of the stools were cut on the 28tli of 

 August, while No. 2 shows the amount of growth made by a stool of 

 the sauie variety between the 28th August and the 25th September. 

 Judged by the usual standards, the stool in No. 1 would be considered 

 fit only now for cutting, and yet this delay would mean the loss of 

 the growth shown in No. 2. The last cutting, in autumn, was made 

 on the 14th May. The above indicates the rapidity with whicli 

 Chinese lucerne grows during the late winter and early si)ring in the 

 Karroo. 



