188 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Gazette. 

 No. Date. Items. 



1109 10/12/20 Compulsory dipping of sheep and goats under the Scab 

 Regulations and the Stock Diseases Act has been ordered in 

 the Districts of Graaff-Reinet, Aberdeen, "NVillowmorc, 

 Albert, Wodehouse, Barkly East, and Elliot within the 

 period 2nd January, 1921, and 28th February, 1921; for 

 the Districts of StMtterheim, Stockenstrom, and Adelaide 

 within the period 2nd January to 31st March 1921 (G.N. 

 No. 2230); for the Districts of Aliwai North, Herschel, 

 Wolmaransstad, and Lichtenburg within the period 2nd 

 January to 30th April, 1921 (G.N. No. 2255); for the District 

 of Hoopstad within the period 2nd January and 31st March, 

 1921 (G.N. No. 2255). 



1114 7/1/21 Sections 36, 37, and 38 of the Stock and Produce Theft 

 Repression Consolidation Act, 1893, has been put in force 

 in the Division of Calvinia. (Proc. No. 8.) 



1114 7/1/21 Under the provisions of Fencing Act, No. 17 of 1912, contribu- 

 tions towards the cost of dividing fences in Ward Palala, 

 District of Waterberg, are declared to be obligatory. (Proc. 

 No. 6.) 



THE WEATHER. 



Extracts from the Monthly Report of the Chief 

 Meteorologist for the Union. 



Taken as a whole, the rainfall for December, 1920, was very partial in many 

 districts, the showers being so highly localized in some instances that only 

 portions of a farm benefited from the precipitation. Although rainfall was 

 mostly associated with thunderstorms, which occurred on twenty-six days of 

 the month, showers were comparatively light, with but little run-off. Although 

 some good rains, exceeding one inch, were experienced at a number of stations, 

 the beneficial effect was neutralized to a great extent by succeeding hot days 

 with strong winds. The result of these conditions is that although in most 

 cases crops were able to survive, growth was but slight, whilst a number of 

 insect pests, particularly the mealie-borer, made their appearance in a number 

 of places. In a limited number of cases crops promise a record yield, but, 

 generally, heavy rains are still required for storage purposes. Late ploughing 

 and planting were seriously interfered with owing to droughty conditions, 

 particularly in the neighbourhood of Dundee (Natal) and the Waterberg 

 (Transvaal). Hailstorms, frequently accompanied by very strong winds, caused 

 in some instances not only considerable damage to crops, but also killed sheep, 

 poultry, etc. 



The total rainfall for the year was below the average over the greater 

 part of the Transvaal, poi'tion of the north and south-west of the Free State, 

 and the west and north of Natal, and more particularly the south and south- 

 east coastal areas of the Cape Province, where a severe drought was experienced 

 throughout the greater part of the year. The deficiency varied from 3 to 

 about 11 inches between Swellendam and Umtata, and was little short 

 of these amounts over portions of the east and north of the Transvaal. In 

 the western Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Natal, the shortage was 

 mostly between 1 and 2 inches. On the other hand large excesses of 6 to 

 20 inches were recorded in Natal, 3 to 10 inches at a few places in the south 

 and east of the Transvaal, and 3 to 11 inches at several stations in the 

 central and western portions of the . Cape Province. Excesses less 

 than 2 inches were the exception over these areas. The cumulative rainfall 

 since 1st July last was in excess of the normal by 1-4 inches over the greater 

 part of the eastern and central Transvaal, Natal, and west and south-west 

 of the Cape. A shortage of approximately equal amounts occurred over the 

 north and west Transvaal, Orange Free State, and the central, south, and 

 south-eastern portions of the Cape including the Traiiskei. The deficit was 

 greatest along the south and south-east littoral and part of the north-east 

 section of the Cape Province. 



