Weeds of South Africa. ;'')21 



The surface of the stem may be quite smooth, as, e.g. the Burweed 

 (Xanthkau spinosuni), or it may be covered with hairs or other out- 

 growths. Special terms are applied to the stem according to the 

 nature of its surface. It may be: — 



Pubescent, i.e. covered with vejy fine iiairs as in the Upright 

 iStarbur (Acanthosperiiun/i hispichim) and the Devil's Claw 

 (Marty nia frograns). (vSee fig. 8.) 



Striate, when tlie stem is grooved with longitudinal furrcjws as 

 in the Sow Thistle {Sonclmx oleraceus). (See fig. 9.) 



Rough, when the stem is covered with stiff coarse hairs, as 

 the Cocklebur (Xanthium occidentale) . (vSee fig. 10.) 



Winged, when the base of the leaves is produced as a ridge or 

 wing on the stem, as in the Malta Thistle (Centaurea 

 iiielitensis). (See fig. 11.) 



(To be continued .) 



Fruit Export. 



Shipments of fruit for overseas during the month (^f February, 

 1921, were as follows: — Eiv Capetown (boxes): Peaches, 7290; pears, 

 99,394; plums, 13,517; nectarines, 899; grapes, 16,899 ; melons, 488, 

 E.r Port Elizabeth (boxes) : Pines, 447. E^r Dur])an (boxes) : Pines, 

 277. Ea; Capetown to America in ventilated hold (boxes) : Melons, 

 2213. Total boxes exported during the month : 141,424. 



Total shipments from all ports during 1920-1921 deciduous fruit 

 season: November, 1920, 42 boxes; December, 1920, 27,422 boxes; 

 January, 1921, 76,280 boxes; February, 1921, 141,424 boxes. Total, 

 245,174 boxes. 



Exports for the 1919-1920 deciduous season anjounted to 265,300 

 boxes. 



The Union's Maize Industry: Conference nt 

 Potchefstroom. 



The Principal of the Potchefstroom School of Agriculture has 

 arranged a conference of maize farmers and others interested in the 

 maize industry to meet at Potchefstroom on the 6th April, 1921. The 

 morning will be spent in the experimental fields of maize, and after 

 lunch, which will be provided at the institution, a series of lectures 

 on maize growing and other matters concerning the industry will be 

 given by officials of the Department. Towards the evening the 

 experimental plots and other points of interest at the institution will 

 be visited. It is jjroposed, also, to have an open discussion on the 

 questions of maize export and the system of crop estimates. 



11 



