24:0 Journal of the IDepartment of AcRictiLTviRfi. 



THE PROBLEM OF SCAB. 



A New Policy Outlined. 



Since the early days of our history scab has been a thorn in onr flesh, 

 retarding our progress and sapping our energy and wealth in the 

 ceaseless and, unhappily, unavailing efforts to clean our country of 

 the scourge. The problem is one which exercised the minds of our 

 fathers and their fathers before them, and to-day we face it still. 

 To what extent the presence of the scab insect in South Africa has 

 impeded its development and well being, none can tell. It is a 

 subject which, as far as our memory goes, has been discussed in 

 Parliament and throughout the wide stretches of our land, yet all 

 our plans and labours have not attained a definite end : the thorn 

 remains in our flesh, nor does its smart lessen with the passing of the 

 years. When we consider the successful handling of the problem in 

 another continent — how a disease which continues menacingly with 

 us has been removed and forgotten in Australia — it is surely a matter 

 to give pause to every farmer of South Africa, and imbue each of 

 us with a strong desire to do what others have done, and, in removing 

 the stigma which its continuing presence attaches to us as a people, 

 place in its stead, yet another monument of success in our campaign 

 against the obstacles with which agricultural South Africa has 

 contended. 



South Africa has taken her place in the world's forward move- 

 ment which science and experience make possible, yet our progress 

 is being hampered by the cloud resting over us in the form of the 

 scab insect seriously affecting the 'chief of the country's pastoral 

 industries. Scab decreases the value of our avooI, brings down the 

 condition of our stock, engages the energy of hundreds of our men, 

 and burdens the country with an ever-increasing expenditure amount- 

 ing at present to £200,000 annually. Notwithstanding all our efforts 

 the scab insect continues to exact its toll from us and requires our 

 constant vigilance lest it should finally conquer us and so ravage our 

 flocks as to break down an industry on which our prosperity in a large 

 measure depends. 



That is the position to-day, but happily we have not become dis- 

 couraged with the non-success of our efforts, nor are we submitting to 

 a condition of things which reflects discredit on us. We feel that the 

 obstacle can be overcome by a change of methods. There is evidence 

 that the progressive farmers of South Africa are becoming impatient 

 of the incubus which is for ever bearing them down, and within 

 recent years public opinion has increasingly clamoured for a more 

 drastic means to remove the evil of scab from our midst. And this 

 Ewakening of the farmer to the great need of personally grappling 

 with the problem is the vitalizing spirit which we feel will bring 

 about the consummation we all devoutly wish. The rising tide of 

 opinion has at last taken shape in no uncertain manner. What may 

 perhaps be the beginning of a new era in our scab eradication 

 campaign emanates from the principle involved in a recommendation 



