oT6 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Dec, 1922. 



exceptionally dry (hiring* the whole g-rowing period of the ni;iize crop. 

 The drought was so severe during the flowering and cobbing stages 

 of the crops that a number of varieties succumbed altogethei', and 

 while Sahara Yellow resisted the drought splendidly and gave its 

 usual average yield, it would appear that it has found a superior in 

 Leguna (a recently imported White Dent), which is a vigorous 

 grower, drought-resister, and g'ood yielder. 



Mangels. — Mammoth Long Red did very well, some roots 

 weighing up to 25 lb. each. 



Millets. — Boer Manna, Broom-corn-millet, Proso millet, and 

 Japanese Barnyard were planted. Broom-corn-millet again gave the 



best results in grain, hay. and feeding vahie. 



Mimiesota Black Amber Cane. — Two acres of this crop Avere made 

 into stack silage, which proved excellent. This cane is considered 

 very suitable for the drier parts as an ensilage crop. 



Beans. — Fifty varieties were planted. The Bomba and Flageolet, 

 two white varieties, did best. 



Sorghums and Kaffir (Jorn. — Twenty varieties were planted, but 

 owing to the ravages oif grubs and aphis the results were poor. 



Spineless Cactus. — Among the fourteen varieties experimented 

 with, the following gave the best results: — Fusicaiilis, Morado, 

 Tralnitt's Algerian, and Miskatel. 



Trees. — The dry-land mixed fruit and forest trees continue to do 

 very well, and also some fodder siirubs, of which Gacia {Cytissus 

 stenopetalus), some o'f the salt Inishes, and Gemsbok bean do excep- 

 tionally well. 



Barley. — The new 6-row (Mariout) malting variety, of wdiich 

 mention was made in the previous report, has again done very well 

 as a summer crop, and the farmer co-operative experimentalists all 

 rc])ort very fas'ourably on this vaiiety. 



Rye. — This cereal is still receiving si)ecial attention, and some 

 progress has been made towards gaining the object aimed at — the 

 consumption of rye bread in South Africa, as explained in the 

 previous report. 



Peanuts. — Resulting from many years of study and experiment 

 in the cultivation of peanuts, it can noM" definitely be stated that 

 this crop is not only profitable, but is also a comparatively safe crop, 

 especially in the summer rainfall areas of the Union. Hundreds of 

 bags of seed have been distributed to many farmers with most 

 gratifying results. The peanut has developed into a new South 

 African industry and deserves every encouragement, especially in 

 reduced railway rates and ship's freights. 



A peanut by-product and nut-butter factory has been established 

 at Duivelskloof , Northern Transvaal, and a strong company has been 

 formed Avith the object of erecting a large oil-expressing plant at 

 Pietersburg, Transvaal, and exporting nut oil to England and 

 Continental Europe, where there is an unlimited demand for this 

 commoditv. 



