Notes. 3 



Co-operative Agricultural Societies. 



The Seventh Congress of Co-operative Agricultural Societies in 

 the Transvaal and Orange Free State was held last June, and we 

 publish in this issue the minutes of the proceedings. There are many 

 problems which arise in connection with the administration of these 

 societies in securing the best interests of co-operators, and these are 

 discussed from time to time at these congresses. The spirit of 

 co-operation is growing in the Union, the subject being one of 

 moment to every farmer, and a perusal of the minutes will be helpful 

 in throwing light on some matters which have exercised the minds of 

 farmers recently, and interesting in disclosing the growth of the 

 movement under direct Government control in the Transvaal and 

 Orange Free State. 



The Tobacco Leaf Slug. 



Yet another pest with which the farmer has to contend has made 

 its unwelcome presence in the form of a beetle which is attacking 

 tobacco plants. Until recently this plant had been considered free 

 from particularly dangerous pests in the field, and the advent of the 

 beetle, which has been given the popular name of Tobacco Leaf Slug, 

 will be viewed with concern by all tobacco growers. Prompt measures 

 have been taken by the Department in controlling the pest and an 

 article (with illustrations) on the subject by Mr. C. P. van der Merwe, 

 of the Division of Entomology, is published in this issue of the 

 Journal, and should be carefully studied. The article gives a brief 

 sketch regarding the occurrence of the pest in the Union from the 

 time it was first observed at Cedara, JNatal, up to Iho present, its 

 appearance having now been noted in a number of tobacco centres. 

 The nature of the injury from the beetle, its life history and habits, 

 the plants other than tobacco it feeds on, natural enemies, as well as 

 other observations, are carefully set out by Mr. Van der Merwe. 

 Special attention is drawn to the clear directions given for controlling 

 the pest which, it is pleasing to state, can successfully be kept down. 

 We would specially request farmers and others who may observe the 

 insect, whether feeding on tobacco or other plants in localities other 

 than those referred to in the article, to communicate with the Division 

 of Entomology. 



Successful Farming. 



We draw attention to an article we publish elsewhere giving some 

 interesting figures concerning a season's farming on the high veld by 

 a farmer having a Government small-holding. The season was not 

 exceptionally favourable, but the returns for the year show a handsome 

 return a -ad afford an encouraging example of what real honest toil, 

 common-sense methods, and sufficient though modest capital can win. 

 Farming systems are daily becoming more intensive and farmers are 

 more and more constrained to watch, as of primary importance, the 

 economic aspect of their operations. The figures of production, 

 income, and expenditure have been carefully collected and should 

 prove of special interest to farmers with small propositions, to whom 

 they will doubtless be welcome in view of the dearth of statistical 

 data which prevails in connection with the economy of farming in the 

 Union. 



