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



officers of some divisions are called upon to do a large amount of 

 extension work. It will be the duty of the new Division of Extension 

 Work to regulate the activities of both the schools and the divisions in 

 this respect, and to provide for systematic instruction throughout 

 the country, by arranging what is known as " Farmers' Days " or 

 " Farmers' Weeks," utilizing in different parts of the country the 

 services of officers best able to meet the needs of those parts, con- 

 centrating groups of officers at selected centres, and so making the 

 instruction varied, attractive, and as useful as j)()ssible. In short, 

 the Division will substitute group instruction at suitable places, 

 where farmers will be asked to come together, in place of individual 

 instruction to farmers, thereby saving the time of officers and reach- 

 ing a larger number of farmers. Advice to individual farmers will 

 not be eliminated, as special circumstances will require such visits, 

 but it will be very much restricted compared with the past system. 



(Jwing to the financial circumstances of tlie country agricultural 

 scholarships for oversea study were reduced in number, twelve being* 

 awarded as against twenty in the previous year. Moreover, no provi- 

 sion can be made for such scholarships for next year. The number 

 receiving scholarships at present is 43. During the year under 

 review 11 returned scholars received technical appointments in the 

 Department. 



Reference to the shortage of stafi: quarters at several of the 

 agricultural schools has to be repeated. It is not conducive either 

 to discipline or to satisfactory work to have officers live away from 

 these institutions. As rent is paid by occupants of Government 

 quarters, there seems to be no strong reason why the provision of such 

 quarters should be delayed. 



11. Training Farms. — The two farms are doing good work in 

 the training of inexperienced men who desire to make farming their 

 profession. The number of students enrolled at Beginsel, Standerton, 

 is 35, and at Guba Park, Indwe, 41. The latter farm is not entirely 

 suitable for the purpose for which it was established, and the 

 transfer of the work done there is under consideration. For various 

 reasons it has been found advisable to give similar practical training 

 at the agricultural schools as well ; and to the extent to which 

 accommodation is available a one-year's course for this purpose has 

 been instituted at the schools. 



The courses at the two classes of institution naturally vary, 

 owing to the fact that the schools were established primarily for a 

 diploma course (occupying two years), in which teaching of agricul- 

 tural science occupies half the time, while the teaching at the train- 

 ing farms is almost entirely of a practical kind, and all the manual 

 labour — ploughing, stock-feeding, milking, etc. — in connection with 

 the farm operations is given by the students. 



12. Division of Agricidtnral Eco7\omics. — This was referred to 

 ill my last report. An officer of the Department was recently selected 

 to study the Markets and Crops Divisions of the United vStates 

 Department of Agriculture and also to investigate the conditions 

 obtaining on the principal markets of that country. The business 

 side of farming, namely, economic production and marketing, 

 requires urgent attention. Such a Division could give valuable 

 assistance in Avorking out the cost of production of various crops, 

 showing where unprofitable production takes place, suggesting means 



