Departmental Activities. 217 



With regard to the composition of the juice obtained from each 

 of these varieties, no safe comparison can be made with the results 

 obtained from the unmanured plots of Uba (fourth ratoons) harvested 

 in 1913, seeing that the conditions as regards climate, soil, period of 

 growth, etc., would be different. We are, however, fairly safe in 

 assuming that the quality and purity of the juice from each of the 

 varieties does not differ very greatly from that obtained from the 

 TJba, and since the yields of cane are probably in most cases higher 

 than from the Uba, it is safe to state that the amount of sugar obtain- 

 able per acre compares favourably with the amount from the latter 

 and standard type of cane. 



POTCHEFSTROOM, 1 RANSVAAL. 



School. — The term commenced with lectures on 19th January. 

 The number of students enrolled up to date is 84 and all available 

 accommodation is now taken up. There are 31 second-year diploma 

 students and 41 first-year diploma students in Hostel No. 1 ; 12 one- 

 year soldiers' course in Hostel No. 2 ; total, 84. 



Sudan Grass vs. Te;ff in Dry Seasons. — The month has proved an 

 extremely dry one, resulting in the loss, as grain crops, of those fields 

 of maize sown in November. It has been found practically impossible 

 to establish fields of teff in this and the preceding month. One field 

 was sown partly to teff and partly to Sudan grass in December. A 

 good stand was obtained from the vSudan grass, but the teff was a 

 complete failure. Although this portion of the field was resown to 

 this crop later, at the time of a light shower, the results \yere again 

 negative. The whole field was sown, in consequence, with Sudan 

 grass at the end of January. On the experiment division, Sudan 

 grass planted on the same piece of land and at the same time as teff' 

 in December produced a good stand ; while the stand of teff was very 

 poor. These experiences confirm our knowledge of the relative value 

 of Sudan grass, in comparison with teff, as a hay crop in dry years 

 and for dry localities. 



SorghuTTi vs. Maize and CoiojJeas vs. Soya Beans in Dry Seasons. 

 — On the experiment division cowpeas have shown a far greater 

 degree of drought resistance than soya beans. Incidentally the variety 

 trials of sorghums (kaffir corns, etc.) and maize have illustrated the 

 drought-resistant qualities of the former. The sorghums have made 

 a very vigorous growth and have apparently not suffered from the 

 drought. Turkestan and Jap Panicle (Proso & Broom) millets have 

 shown a remarkable drought resistance compared with other varieties. 

 Birds have shown a marked preference for the Panicle millets as 

 compared with the Foxtail, Barnyard, and Pearl millet types. 



Winter Cereals. — Threshing of winter cereals has been completed 

 and the results in general are very satisfactory. " Rate of sowing " 

 tr-als, run in duplicate with the Indian variety Lalkasarwali, showed 

 that the quantity of 45 lb. of seed per acre Avas the best amount sown 

 in this season. The quantities sown were the following : 30, 45, 52^, 

 60, and 75 lb. per acre. The crop was irrigated three times. 



