100 Journal of the Department of AriRicuLTURE. 



AT THE SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE AND 

 EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



January and Febrviary, 1920. 



CERARA, NATAL. 



January, 1920. 



CliTnatic. — The rainfall for January, 1920 (up to and includino; the 27th) was 

 6.9 inches. The mean maximum temperature was 78° and the mean minimum 

 •59.2°. The weather was hot at the beginning of the niontli with mists at night. 

 There were steady rains in the middle of the month. The winds were moderate, 

 and on the whole climatic conditions were very favourable for agriculture. 



Field Operations. — Silage, maize, and cowpeas were planted early in the 

 month. Japanese millet, vetches, teff, and linseed were also sown. 



Crops. — The main grain crop of maize (Hickory King) was planted in 

 November and December and growth was satisfactory during the month. Top 

 grub is giving little trouble as most of the first generation were destroyed by 

 means of a trap crop. One hundred and forty acres were planted with Hickory 

 King. One hundred and thirty-one acres of maize for silage were planted at 

 the beginning of the month and germination and progress have been good. 

 Twenty acres of cow-peas were planted in October last but have made slow pro- 

 gress. Thirty acres more were planted at the beginning of the month and are 

 doing well. Sixty acres have been ploughed for teff grass this month and the 

 seed sown has germinated well. About twenty acres have lieen seeded. Ten and 

 a half acres of Up-to-date and Flourl)all potatoes wei'e planted in September and 

 Octol)er, but these have suffered somewhat from drought and the yield is poor. 

 Fourteen acres of Japanese millet and three acres of linseed were sown. 

 Germination has been good. 



Stock. — The welcome rains during the montli greatly improved the condition 

 of the veld. The stock are doing very well and the milk yield is improving. 

 There were two births during the month, a Shorthorn heifer calf and a Friesland 

 bull calf. 



Orchard. — Operations during the month have been mainly directed to 

 harvesting fruit. Fruit fly has given much trouble altliough frequent spray- 

 ings with fly-bait have been applied. The failure of the bait to check the fly 

 is ascribed to the fact that the frequent rains wash off the bait almost as soon 

 33 it is applied. Fresh growth has started on the trees owing to the rains. A 

 cover crop has lieen sown to check this and summer pruning is receiving atten- 

 tion. 



February, 1920. 



Climate. — The rainfall for the month (up to and including the 22nd) was 

 6.97 inches. The average number of hours of sunshine per day was 6.4 hours. 

 On the whole the days were overclouded with rain at frequent intervals, in fact 

 the rain has been in excess of agricultural needs. 



Field Operations. — Soya beans, cowpeas, Kikuyu grass, teff, and rape were 

 planted. The harvesting and selection of potatoes has commenced. 



Crops. — Hickory King maize has made good growth and a fair yield is 

 probable. 



About five acres of linseed have been destroyed by an outbreak of caterpillars 

 closely resembling the army worm. This pest is, however, being rapidly killed 

 off by diseases and parasites and little further trouble is anticipated from them. 



Stock. — During the montli four Ayrshire calves were born and one Shorthorn. 

 One Shorthorn cow died of old age. One of the cows developed milk fever the 

 day after calving, but this was cured in five hours by inflating the udder. 



