140 



Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



Soils such as these want all-roimd manuring if grapes are to 

 be successfully cultivated, and especially is there a need for potash, 

 a form of plant food required by all sugar or starch-containing crops. 

 They also need to be well supplied with stable or kraal manure, 

 which would add to the deficient humus cdiitent of the soil, and 

 increase its watei-retaining power in a manner that the l;are addition 

 of artihciais can never do. 



General View from Vineyanl, Elsenburg School of Agriculture. 

 Stables on right, Classrooms and Laboratories on left. 



The Value of Winter Feed for Stock. 



The following information, which has been brought to the notice 

 of the Department, provides a striking instance of the value of winter 

 feed for stock : — 



In an eastern district of the Orange Free State were two farmers 

 on adjoining farms, each cultivating 500 morgen of land. In the 

 season 1919 the one spent £120 in growing winter feed for his stock. 

 During the severe drought of 1919 he lost no stock, and further had a 

 good crop of calves in the following year. The other farmer grew no 

 winter feed, and owing to the scarcity of grazing due to thi^ drought 

 had to trek with his cattle. He had to pay £87 in grazing fees, and 

 moreover lost forty head of cattle, and obtained in the following 

 season only half a normal crop of calves from those cows which 

 survived. By losses through death and by grazing charges the 

 drought cost this farmer £487 (if the animals which died be valued at 

 £10 per head), which is £367 in excess of the cost to the other farmer 

 cf growing winter feed. In addition to this, there was ccnsiderable 

 loss through not getting a good calving ser.son in 1920. 



