Departmental Activities. 



311 



In connection with the spraying experiments being carried out at 

 StelJenbosch against scab or fusicladium in pears, the Western 

 Province mycologist reports that whilst it is rather premature to state 

 what the results are likely to be, these promise to be less satisfactory 

 than was at first anticipated, in that the sprayed trees show a fairly 

 high percentage of infection. This is probably due to certain 

 unavoidable causes such as heavy rains in the spring and the 

 protracted periods of blossoming and fruiting. 



The disease known as " vrotpootje " in wheat is one which has 

 been known to farmers in the Western Province for a number of 

 years, and about which prominent wheat growers are becoming rather 

 concerned. The symptoms appear to correspond with those of the 

 disease known as " take-all," which occurs in Europe, Australia, and 

 America. A series of field experiments in the control of this disease 

 have been planned in collaboration with the botanist at Elsenburg, 

 Mr. Starke, of Messrs. C. Starke & Co., having kindly allowed the 

 Department the use of several acres of land near Durbanville for this 

 purpose. Any information with regard to this disease which can be 

 furnished by wheat growers in the Western Province will be much 

 appreciated. 



THE SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE AND EXPERIMENT 



STATIONS. 



CEDARA, NATAL. 



Kikuyu Grass. — Analyses of Kikuyu grass hay have been made 

 and compared with the composition of veld hay. They are as 

 follows : — 



Kikuya (rrass Kikuya Grass Veld Hay 



Hay cut Hay cut cut March, 



February, 1919. December, 1920. 1915. 



Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. 



Moisture 17.7 11.2 8.4 



Ash 8.8 11.2 5.1 



Crude protein 14.5 10.3 3.8 



Amides — 3.8 .5 



Crude fat 1.7 2.6 2.8 



Soluble carbohydrates . 33.8 37.4 47.4 



Crude fibre 23.6 23.5 32.1 



Nutritive ratio — 1:4.4 1:14.4 



These analyses show the high feeding value of Kikuyu as 

 compared with veld hay; its high nutritive ratio should be noted. 



Farm. — During the month a commencement will be made with 

 silage making ; the requirements for the cattle for the winter months 

 approximate to 400 tons. Most of this will be maize silage this 

 year owing to the soya-bean crop failing through damage by hail 

 and by cutworm attack. Dairy cows are requiring heavier feeding, 

 owing to the poorer grazing. A convenient rough guide to the 



