Report of the Department of Agriculture. 



509 



The tables hereunder indicate tliat tlie poultry officers were able 

 to show a o-reater volume of work done than those of any other 

 branch. In horticulture, too, a very considerable interest is to be 

 noted, indicative of the growth of the small holding" system and the 

 readiness of the public to take up the study on lines most appropriate 

 to these conditions. 



Agricultural Education : Extension Work done during 1921-22. 



Engagements filled in judging at shows numbered 262, a large 

 increase over the previous year, and many important and beneficial 

 conferences were held at the different schools. At Elsenburg there 

 were three such meetings, viz., the Annual Grain Farmers' Confe- 

 rence, the Cape Dairymen's Association, and the Tobacco Growers. 

 All three were well attended. Lectures were delivered by the staff, 

 and features of work of interest in each instance were inspected. 

 A Dairy Farmers' Conference was held at Cedara in April. About 

 250 persons were present. The Annual Poultry Conference at Cedara, 

 in May, drew an attendance of 400 and was very success'ful. At 

 Glen a largely attended Poultry Conference was held. The Annual 

 Maize Growers' Conference took place at Potchefstroom in April. 

 The Boys' Maize Growing Competition was conducted from Potchef- 

 stroom for the seventh year; twenty-five schools competed and a very 

 satisfactory interest was shown in the work. 



Live stock were entered for competition at the leading shows, 

 and exhibits of an educational character representing the results of 

 experimental work were staged at as many centres as possible. 



Assistance was rendered to various breed societies in the inspec- 

 tion of cattle for the appendix section of the stud book, 19 herds 

 being examined. Members of the Grootfontein staff inspected 67 

 flocks of merino sheep for stud-book and grading purposes. Two 

 agricultural surveys of proposed railway routes were carried on by 

 the Principal of Grootfontein and reports made to the Railway Ad- 

 ministration. 



The analysis of materials, testing of seeds, determination of fat 

 in milk and cream, and similar services, were carried out for the 



