Maize in Rotation. 



535 



the average of the control plots for first, second, and third years after 

 cowpeas ploughed in on the four-year rotation — one farm only : — 



In this rotation, which is being tried on one farm only, three 

 crops of maize are grown successively, and are then followed by one 

 crop of cowpeas ploughed in, the object being to test whether the 

 beneficial effect of the cowpeas, when treated in this manner, would 

 extend over three crops of maize. In the five-year rotation, the effect 

 of the cowpeas grown for hay was very marked in the two succeeding 

 crops of maize. In the four-year rotation, as shown above, the 

 beneficial eft'ect of the cowpeas ploughed in in the first two crops of 

 maize succeeding it were distinct, though not quite so marked as in 

 the five-year rotation, and in the third year after the cowpeas the 

 yields were no better than in the plots on which the maize was grown 

 continuously. The experiment, however, has only been in progress 

 for five years, and only on oi)e farm, and the results therefore are in 

 no way conclusive. It may well be that the results in later years 

 will show more markedly the beneficial effect of cowpeas ploughed in 

 in augmenting the yield of maize. 



Export of Grain, etc. 



The exports of grain, etc. (iu bags) for the month of April, 1921, 

 were as follows: Maize, 610,359; maize meal, 56,903; hominy chop, 

 3625; oats, 14,607; rye, 5419; lucerne seed, 416; total, 691,329. 



Total exports, in bags, for the period 1st July, 1920, to 30th 

 April, 1921, were: Maize, 1.562,566; maize meal, 419,451; maize 

 flour, 1199; maize grit (rice), 3111; hominy chop, 60,936; kafiir corn, 

 1715; oats, 31,085; beans, 1213; lucerne seed, 897; rye, 10,255; 

 millet, 11; bran, 1500; total, 2,093,939 bags. 



Stocks in hand at all ports at 30th April, 1921 (iu bags) : Maize, 

 286,725; maize meal, 12,120; oats, 870; hominy chop, 2; rye, 1162; 

 kaffir corn, 166; total, 301,045. 



Marking Sheep witli Tar. 



The Department is advised, through the Trade Commissioner in 

 London, that the British Wool Federation complains of the great 

 inconvenience and loss to certain sections of the wool trade caused by 

 the marking of sheep with tar. This practice, it is stated by the 

 Federation, has increased of late years, and as the matter is viewed 

 seriously by the Department, farmers are urged not to mark their 

 sheep with tar, a practice which depreciates the value of wool reach- 

 ing the London market. 



