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



Report No. X. 

 HORTICULTURE. 



Cliief of Division : I. Tribolet. 



1. General. — The Chief of the Division spends about half his 

 time in visitin<>' various parts of the fruit ^'rowing- areas of the TTiiion, 

 interviewing" inquirers regarding" fruit-farming", attending fruit 

 growers' meetings, arranging" shipping" matters, etc., and judging at 

 agricultural shows; the rest of his time is spent in office, attending 

 to correspondence, Avriting reports, etc. 



In November, 1921, Mr. Nel>elung", the citrus specialist, arrived 

 from California, and took up his work with the Division. He has 

 lost no time in becoming acquainted with local conditions in the 

 various citrus districts of the Union. In the course of his several 

 tours he has not only obtained knowledge regarding soil, temperature, 

 rainfall and water supply, and, to a certain extent, the farmers 

 occupying the land, but has also been able to impart valuable advice 

 to numerous inquirers. This advice touched on methods of citrus 

 culture that obviously needed remedying", such as, proper methods of 

 nursery propagation, of planting, and of pruning young and old 

 trees ; the general care of the orchard in matters of irrigation and 

 cultivation ; and the correct picking of fruit in respect of the types 

 of clippers and picking bags to be used, also the manner of handling. 



The citrus expert, Mr. H. B. Anderson, arrived on contract 

 from the United States in xiugust, 1921, and did excellent work until 

 May, 1922, when he had a severe attack of malaria, contracted in 

 tlie north-eastern Transvaal. He died on the 10th of that month, 

 iinicli regretted by those with whom he liad become acquainted in 

 various parts of the citrus areas. 



The itinerant horticvilturist, Mr. Le Sueur, stationed at Port 

 Elizabeth, in charge of the eastern Cape districts area, resigned from 

 -Tanuary, 1922. The Dis-ision is thus short of two veiry important 

 officers. It is proposed to fill one of the vacant posts with one of 

 the oversea students, due to return about November. On account of 

 the big developments taking place in fruit growing in the eastern 

 Cape Districts (Sunday's Eiver, Fish River, Uitenhage, Gamtoos 

 River, and elsewhere), a capable itinerant horticulturist is urgently 

 needed for this part. An officer is also required to fill ihe late Mr. 

 Anderson's post, as the citrus industi'y is making rapid progress, 

 and one citrus specialist is totally unable to cope with the increasing 

 work. 



2. Ea-port Season 1922 : Stajf Arrangemsnts . — The Division 

 was again unfortunate in regard to staff. Mr. Roworth, the inspector 



