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



The only sample of water that requires any special remark was 

 one from Bellville, tested for salinity in connection with its proposed 

 use in dairying. It contained 51 "2 parts of dissolved salts per 100,000, 

 consisting almost entirely of sodium chloride. 



As to plant products, a sample of senecio from Newlands was 

 examined in connection with its use as a poultry food. Some guinea 

 grass from Somerset East was also analysed with a view to being 

 utilized as fodder. Several plants were examined for their essential 

 oil content, and the constants of those oils determined. Experiments 

 were carried out to ascertain whetlier j)rickly-pear sections contain 

 any saponin or pectin substances which could cause it to act as a 

 " spreader " in insecticide washes, but nothing definite could be 

 elicited. It was also sought to ascertain whether prickly-pear 

 mucilage could partially replace g-elatine if added when a solution 

 of the latter was just below setting consistency. In this respect, too, 

 the results were of a negative nature. 



In connection with experiments at Elseiibiug on feeding pigs 

 with tlie residue of maize from which alcohol had been prepared and 

 distilled oft', analyses of mealie meal before and after treatment were 

 carried out. 



(h) To,nc()'lo(iii-(il ll'o/'/.'. — Occasional cases of supposed poisoning 

 of stock were submitted for examination. 



Several samples of strychnine were received at various times, with 

 the complaint that they had been found ineffective for wild animal 

 ])oisoning. In eveiy case the article was found perfectly pure, and 

 the fault must lip in the compounding of tlie bait. 



The deposition of crystals in drums of concentiated sodium 

 arsenite solution was inquired into, and attention given to the 

 numerous untoward results of the careless or malicious use of the 

 arsenicals employed in orchard spraying and stock dipping. 



(c) Microhiiological TFo;7i'. — In connection with the commercial 

 manufacture of acetone and alcohol from such cultures as maize or 

 sweet potatoes, a bacillus capable of effecting the conversion of mnize 

 was obtained by the kindness of the Rockefeller Institute, and cultures 

 were prepared for a large-scale production of these articles, but the 

 plant was not located in a suitable environment and was subsequently 

 broken up. 



Pure cultures of certain soil organisms were procured from the 

 Lister Institute, and sub-cultures of these were prepared and distri- 

 buted amongst agriculturists for experimental purposes. Further 

 samples of soil from different parts of the TTnion were sent to Roth- 

 amsted for the study of soil protozoa. Experiments in sail inoculation 

 were initiated on several farms in the south-western districts. 



(d) Dairy Indvsfry Act. — Under the provisions of this ilct all 

 milk and cream testing a])p]iances oft'ered for sale within the Union 

 have to be tested for accuracy of graduation and dimensions, and 

 marked in a Government laboratory. This practice was continued, 

 and 616 articles examined during the year. They comprised 447 Bab- 

 cock cream bottles, 72 Babcock milk bottles, and 97 pipettes. Of 

 these, 46'9 })er cent, were rejected, viz., 50" 1 per cent, of tlie cream- 

 test bottles, 86"1 per cent, of the milk-test bottles, and 3'1 per cent, 

 of the pipettes. 



