Departmental Activities. 407 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG (CAPE). 



Foultry Week at Fort Elizabeth. — A very suceessi'ul short course 

 of instruction in poultry culture was held during March by the 

 Lecturer in Poultry, under the auspices of the Poultry Society at 

 Port Elizal>eth. The course extended from the 1st to the 5th of 

 tlie month, and was attended hy a very appreciative audience; the 

 average attendance at the lectures and demonstrations, whicli were- 

 g'iven each afternoon and evening, was eighty-six. The follow- 

 ing subjects were dealt with: — 



Lectures. — (1) Breeds of poultry suited to Soutli African 

 requirements ; (2) management of stock ; (o) selection and 

 mating; (4) incubation and rearing of chicks; (5) foods 

 and feeding; (0) housing; (7) handling, storage, and 

 marketing of eggs ; (8) common diseases of poultry and 

 their treatment. 



Demonstrations. — (1) Egg testing and grading; (2) killing and 

 trussing of poultry for market; (o) caponizing. 



The most pleasing feature of the short course was the keen 

 interest displayed by the audience, and it was noted tbat a number 

 of men and women who attended took notes of all the chief points at 

 the lectures and demonstrations. vSuch courses should be of great 

 value in stimulating interest in this and allied branches of farming, 

 by giving a large number of those interested an opportunity of 

 gaining first-hand information, which otherwise could only be 

 obtained by attending the short vacation courses at one of the schools 

 of agriculture. This is not always convenient or possible, by reason 

 of important business obligations. Evening lectures are of great 

 value to many business men who are unable to attend lectures given 

 during the day. 



A useful educational exhibit from the School was staged, consist- 

 ing of various " home-made " appliances, graded eggs, eggs packed 

 for export, poultry foods, and models of test pens, also a number of 

 bird; of various breeds. These were used throughout the course in 

 connection with the lectures and demonstrations. 



A good exhibit of incubators, appliances, and foodstuffs, which 

 contributed towards the success of the course, was also staged by 

 local firms, who are to be congratulated on their enterprise. 



We are indebted to the Port Elizabeth Poultry Society for the 

 excellent arrangements made in connection with the course, and to 

 the local Agricultural Society for its valuable assistance. 



Co-operatine Wlieat Experiment. Gamha River. — ()n the 25th 

 May, 1920, 50 lb. of South African Medeah and 50 lb. of Eed 

 Egyptian Wheat were sown broadcast on the loamy river-soil of the 

 Gamha Piver. The soil was not fertilized, nor was the crop treated 

 in any way different to the usual treatment accorded to wheat in that 

 area. On the 18th December, 1920, the crop was harvested. The 

 Ped Egyptian gave a return of 3600 lb. of first-class grain, which is 

 equivalent to a return of 72 bags from one sown. The tSouth African 

 Medeah gave a return of 2400 lb., which is equivalent to a return of 

 48 bags from one sown. 



No rain fell during the growing period, and the soil was only 

 irrigated twice. This is considered to be almost a record yield. 



