490 Journal of the Department of Agricliltfre. — Dec, 1922. 



introduced in place of annual increments, only inspectors who have 

 been able to show progress participating. The bonuses will range 

 from £20 to £50 per annum, according to the amount of progress 

 made. This reorganization resulted in a saving of about £20,000^ 

 and is expected to lead to greater efficiency at the same time. 



The South African Agricultural Union, which is the body 

 recognized as representing the farmers of the Union, has at several 

 successive congresses recommended more stringent legislation with 

 a view to securing the eradication of scab in the near future. There 

 seems to be no doubt that the majority of farmers are in favour of 

 such a measure. The piesent financial circumstances of the country 

 appear to demand steps which will free the Union as soon as possible 

 from the annual payment of £180,000. Without such steps this 

 expenditure and the stigma on the country are likely to remain 

 indefinitely. The cry is for more Government supervision. No 

 means of affording stricter control by the Government is known 

 except at considerably greater expenditure. What is wanted is a 

 means of ensuring greater activity by a certain class of farmer. 



17. East Coast Fever. — Taken as a whole progress was made in 

 the w'ork of eradicating this disease, more particularly in the Trans- 

 vaal. Notwithstanding the spread of the disease to other clean 

 districts, the following comparative table shows the position in this 

 Province as at 30tli June, 1921 and 1922, respectively. 



Infected Farm?. 30th June, 1921. 30th June, 1922. 



Lydenburg 3 1 



Piet Retief 13 12 



Pietersburg 14 6 



Barberton 16 3 



Zoutpausberg 45 24 



Pretoria 87 93 



Carolina — 2 



Waterberg — 4 



Middelburg — 1 



In the Piet Ketief District, where complete eradication was 

 nearly attained, illicit movements from Swaziland reintroduced the 

 disease to a number of farms. In Pretoria District a considerable 

 improvement is recorded, notwithstanding the larger number of out- 

 breaks as compared with a year ago, due to dipping tanks on a^ 

 number of infected farms only becoming available at the end of 

 1921. Farmers are now convinced of the effectiveness of dipping, 

 and few losses are being sustained. 



The introduction of the disease into Carolina, Waterberg, and 

 Middelburg Districts, presumably by illicit movements of cattle, is 

 inost disappointing ; but, fortunately, dipping operations could be 

 put into force with little delay, and the hope is entertained that the 

 disease will be confined to the few farms infected. In Natal an 

 appreciable improvement was effected during the year, notwith- 

 standing setbacks in eight districts. The improvement is attributed 

 by the Principal Veterinary (Jfficer to closer supervision, which was 

 made possible by increase of the field staff. 



In the Cape Province a case of the disease was discovered in 

 Komgha District after that district had been free from the disease 

 for a number of years. It must have been introduced from the 

 Transkeian Territories, in which, unfortunately, the position is 



