Journal of the Department 

 OF Agriculture. 



Vol. II. APRIL, 1921. No. 4. 



Published monthly in English and Afrikaans by the Department of Agriculture, 



Union of South Africa. 



Editor.- G, W. Klerck. 



Subscription : Within the Union and South-West Protectorate, 5Sm (otherwise 6Sm) 

 per annum, ]3ost free, payable in advance. 



Applications, with subscriptions, to be sent to the Government 

 Printer, Box 373, Pretoria. 



NOTES. 



THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, 



It is announced (lOtli March, 1921) that the 

 Honourable Sir Thomas Smartt, K.C.M.G-., has taken 

 over from the Rt. Hon. F. S. Malan the Portfolio of 

 Agriculture in the newly-formed Cabinet. 



The Misuse of Sheep-dip Powder on Grain Bags. 



Merchants, traders, farmers, and others concerned are warned of 

 the danger attending the use of poisonous compounds in the treat- 

 ment of grain bags as a preventive against weevil development or the 

 depredations of rats and mice in the stacks and stores. An instance 

 has recently come to the notice of the Department. Large consign- 

 ments of maij'e arriving at one of the Union's ports for shipment 

 oversea were found to contain a great number of bags bearing a yellow 

 stain, suggesting the use of a dipping powder apparently for the 

 purpose of guarding against weevil infection. On examination it 

 was found that the poison had penetrated the bags, and a sample of 

 the grain revealed, on analysis, that it contained an appreciable 

 amount of arsenic, which precluded its use as a human or animal 

 food. 



Apart from the danger to life which this practice entails, it is 

 pointed out that, should it become known that powders of a poisonous 

 nature are being used on bags, the Union's maize export trade, which 

 has attained such a high standard and is so well thought of overseas, 

 may be affected. No opportunity should be lost by all whose interests 

 are concerned to discourage this practice. 



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