Report of the Department of Agriculture. 499 



bills of lading' which enable them to discharge maize in practically 

 any way they choose. Any extra charges involved in oft:-loading 

 South African maize, which is carried in bags and not in bulk, have 

 io be detiayed by importers. The charges so incurred in respect of 

 South African maize amounts to 6s. 6d. per 2240 lb., as against 

 2s. 5d. in respect of River Plate shipments. When the elevator 

 system enables South African maize to be carried in bulk, it should 

 command at least as high a price as the Argentine product. 



34. Wlieaf a ml <^ats. — The season on the whole was not alto- 

 gether favourable, drought being responsible for a shortfall in some 

 of the principal producing districts in the winter-rainfall area, 

 although in some cases the wheat crop equalled or exceeded that of 

 the previous year. In the summer-rainfall area conditions were 

 favourable in the Cape Province, but varied in the Transvaal, where, 

 however, about the same quantity of wheat as last year is estimated 

 to have been reaped. In the Orange Free State there was a falling 

 off. 



Production of Wheat and Oats, 1919 to 1921. 



Wlieat. Oats (Grain). 



Bags. Bags. I 



1919 1,538,720 999,580 



1920 2,284,011 1,274,895 



1921 , 2,158,000* — 



The wheat and flour imports consumed since 1917 are: — 



Bagsf (200 lb.). Value. 



1918 458,261 £556,921 



1919 449,044 598,890 



1920 .. 1,967,213 4,535,471 



1921 428,585 007,998 



Tlie huge introduction in 1920 was due to over-importation and 

 to a smaller production in 1919. A large quantity of this excess 

 importation had to be carried over into 1921. 



35. Viticulture. — The unfortunate boom in 1920, which was fol- 

 lowed by a collapse of the wine market and the ruin of several firms, 

 still leaves its effect. The wine market is depressed, the price paid 

 for the last vintage tor distilling wine being about £3 per leaguer. 

 Of the estimated crop of 105,000 leaguers only 20,000 were sold to 

 wine merchants. 



The hopes built on a large export trade Inrve not yet been real-, 

 ized. The exports in 1920 were 486,809 gallons, and in 1921 375,726 

 gallons, valued at £187,837 and £93,142 respectively. The growth 

 of such a trade cannot, however, be expected to be anything but slow. 



In view of all these conditions farmers turned their attention to 

 the manufacture of raisins and dried grapes on a large scale. From 

 5d. to 7d. per lb. was offered in New York for the latter, and fairly 

 reinunerative prices ruled for raisins on the London market. 



A co-operative society exists for disposing of the wine manu- 

 factured, and controls the' disposal of practically the whole crop, and 



* Crop pstimate. 

 • . t Imports less re-exports : flour, 170 lb. = 200 lb. wheat. 



