486 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Dec, 1922. 



it establishes the principle of self-help. In the Act the Minister 

 of Agriculture is empowered to impose a special fee in respect 

 of g-raded products for the purpose of providing- funds which 

 could be used, with the approval of the organizations concerned, for 

 improvement of industries in respect of which the fees are levied. 

 Such improvement can be obtained, for instance, by providing- 

 itinerant instructors, conducting investigations, securing better 

 organization, etc. The manner in which this provision will operate 

 has been explained in more detail in the paragraph dealing with the 

 grading of bacon. The special 'fee can be imposed in respect of 

 export products as well, and has already been imposed in connection 

 with export fruit. 



8. Fencing Act. — The Fencing Act of 1912 was extended tO' 

 jackal-proof fencing-. This measure is of great economic benefit to 

 sheep farmers who suffer, on account of the depredations of jackal, 

 depreciation of the quality and quantity of wo(d, deterioration 

 of the veld, and a smaller percentage of laml)s born. TTnder the 

 Act just passed, farmers who wish to erect jackal-proof fencing in 

 a district which has asked that the Act be proclaimed therein, will 

 be able to call upon the adjoining owners to contribute to such 

 fencing, and application can be made to the Land Bank for advances 

 to meet the cost, as in the case of ordinary fencing. 



9. Agriciiltural Education and Research : Co-ordination. — 

 The committee appointed by the Minister of Agriculture to co- 

 ordinate agricultural education and research, and referred to 

 in the previous year's report, presented its proposals. The 

 committee was also required to consider the training of teachers 

 for g'iving instruction in nature-study and agriculture. It may 

 fairly be claimed that the committee has laid the foundation 

 of agricultural education in tlie primary and secondary schools. It 

 indicates how teachers could be suitably trained both for teaching 

 nature-study in primary schools and for giving agricultural instruc- 

 tion in secondary and high schools. It recommends the establishment 

 at carefully selected centres of special agricultural secondary schools 

 at which the large number of boys who now leave school after com- 

 pleting the primary school course can pursue an agricultural course. 

 These are intended particularly for farm boys. The committee 

 further proposes a complete system of mutual assistance between the 

 Agricultural Faculties of the Universities of South Africa and 

 Stellenbosch and the Schools of Agriculture and Technical 

 Divisions of the Department, that is to say, an interchange 

 between the Faculties and the Agricultural Schools of 

 members of the teaching staff, as well as teaching- 

 facilities, when such assistance is required and available; 

 deliberations in regard to research and experimental work betAveen 

 members of the Faculties and of the Schools, as well as 

 between the Faculties and the Divisions; divisional laboratories being 

 made available to the Faculties for the purposes of research ; lectures 

 being given by members of the Divisions to University students on 

 special subjects, and Experiment Stations of the Department being- 

 made available to the staff and students of the Universities. It will 

 be seen that, as regards research and teaching, the Faculties and 

 Divisions of the Department will co-operate, and that not only 

 co-ordination of work^ but also facilities for more work, are 

 provided for at a minimum of expense. To some extent these 



