Departmental Activities. 115 



fact some, farmers are pleased to see the swellings, because they 

 ^contend (and very probably they are correct) that animals developing" 

 -Swelling's will possess a stronger degree of immunity than others. 



Up to the end of the old year the issue of Blue-Tongue Vaccine 

 and Wire-Worm E,emedy was smaller than has been the case in recent 

 ,years. ThivSi fact proves that these diseases were not very prevalent 

 up to that time, and must be ascribed to the drought that prevailed 

 in many parts of the country. As soon as the heavy rains set in 

 these diseases, as well as horse-sickness, will appear and the demand 

 for vaccines will increase. 



The inoculation of private Jtorses against horse-sickness has now 

 been restarted at the Laboratory. About 100 horses arrived about the 

 middle of January and are now undergoing treatment. Owners are 

 advised, in the order in which their applications were received, of 

 the possibility of getting a limited number of horses inoculated. It 

 is, of course, inevitable that many farmers will be disappointed over 

 this matter. It should be borne in mind, however, that the stabling 

 accommodation at the Laboratory is very limited, and even the 

 inoculation of 100 horses at a time entails a larg-e amount of extra 

 work. We are only accepting a small number of animals from each 

 •owner so as to g'ive as many people as possible a chance of getting a 

 few of their horses immunized. 



Farmers who make application after the publication of these 

 notes will probably have to wait until July before their horses can be 

 received. 



DAIRYING. 



With regard to the note appearing in January's issue of the 

 Journal, we are pleased to state that Mr. J. F. Stephenson 

 has been appointed as the first official grader under the scheme of 

 grading cheese for local consumption throughout the Union, ai'd 

 will be stationed in East Griqualand with headquarters at Kcistad. 

 Mr. Stephenson wn/s formerly attached to this Division as grader to 

 the East Griqualand Cheese Manufacturers' Association, and 

 although under the supervision of the Division, received half salary 

 from the association, the balance being paid by Government. He is 

 now a whole-time officer of the Division of Dairying, and will under- 

 take grading for the public generally. Mr. StepheiiBon is fully 

 acquainted with the conditions and requirements of East Griqua- 

 land and with all cheese factories in that area. 



Mr. Rae, who succeeded Mr. Stephenson in 1919, now leaves to 

 take up an appointment as lecturer in dairying at the School of 

 Agriculture, Elsenburg, Cape. Mr. Rae has done excellent work, 

 especially as the country and conditions were entirely new to him. 



Dairy Inspector Wilkinson, stationed at Queenstown, Cape 

 Province, reports as follows : Speaking generally, the outlook of the 

 dairy industry in the Cape Province is at the time of writing not too 

 bright. Lack of seasonal rains in the Midlands and Border district 

 tas its reflection in a restricted butter and cheese output. Those 

 creameries and cheese factories depending upon supplies from the 

 Cape Midlands are, almost without exception, either closed down for 

 the present or working at a lof|s ; as instance, at one small creamery, 



