498 JOUENAL, OF THE DePARTMBT^'T OF AGRICULTURE. DeC, 1922. 



The Department now lias tAA'o cheese graders and instructors, 

 one having- been appointed recently. An improvement ih the quality 

 of our cheese should soon be apparent from the expert knowledge 

 which has been placed at the disposal oi manvifacturers. 



As in the case of butter, regulations for the grading and inspec- 

 tion of export cheese also were introduced. 



31. Pig Breeding. — This industry is not receiving sufficient 

 attention. The Department has not the staff for the purpose. Mr. 

 C. Laver, assisted to a small extent by the Department as to travelling- 

 expenses, has been good enough to give his services free of charge for 

 itinerant instruction ; but it cannot be expected that Mr. Laver should 

 longer continue to do so. The bacon factories have been making great 

 strides in the quality of bacon produced, as has been proved by the 

 prizes awarded for South xifrican bacon at shows in Great Britain. 

 It has bepn suggested by the factories that, in order to prevent unfair 

 competition by inferioi bacon, and to encourag-e the production of a 

 high-class article, bacon tor local consumption produced at factories 

 should be graded. The latest returns of factory production show 

 that in 1920-1921 the production amounted to 5,210,047 lb. Sixpence 

 per 100 lb. live weight would produce sufficient under the Agricid- 

 tural Produce Grading Act, 1922, to cover the cost of grading and 

 leave a balance for providing itinerant instructors to i^ive advice 

 to farmers on breeding and feeding. Such a course would be of 

 direct monetary advantage to both farmers and factories. Regula- 

 tions on the subject will, it is hoped, be promulgated at an early date. 



32. Ostrich Feathers. — This industry continues in a depressed 

 state. Co-operation in the markeling of feathers and the provision 

 of funds for an advertising campaign have been advanced from time 

 to time as the only means of laising- the industry out of its present 

 unfortunate condition. Repeated efforts have so far resulted in 

 failure to secure the co-operation of growers. A further effort is 

 about to be made. The growing' tendency to substitute private for 

 public purchase does not appear to be to the advantage of ostrich 

 farmers. Co-operation among ostrich farmers seems to be the only 

 way to check or counteract private sales. 



33. Maize. — The 1921 crop was a record one, the production 

 being 13.347,237 bags, of which 4,628,197 bags were exported either 

 in the form of maize or meal and similar maize products. The crop 

 of 1922 is far below that of 1921, but the quantity produced will not 

 be known until towards the end of the calendar year. 



The elevator system which the Railways and Harbours Adminis- 

 tration is providing will, it is understood, be available for at least 

 part of the 1923 crop. 



Before the war South .ifrican maize commanded hig'her prices 

 oversea than Argentine maize, sometimes to the extent of 2s. for 

 480 lb. The Commissioner for Commerce on the Continent of Europe 

 was asked to investigate why in recent years South African maize 

 was sold at lower prices than Argentine maize. He reported that in 

 the fiist place an American company bought up many important 

 German starch factories, which produced the finest quality of 

 maizena. Those factories which used South African maize on 

 account of its superior quality now have to take their supplies from 

 America In the second place, the steamship lines have introduced 



