Schools of Agriculture and Experiment Stations. 101 



Orchard.— The continued wet %veather has favoiired the development of 

 iungous diseases. The phim harvest is now finished and the harvesting and 

 stx)ring of apples is proceeding. A large portion of the orchard lias heen planted 

 with green manuring crops. 



Students.- — Sixty students are in residence at present; six are taking a 

 special course at Winkel Spruit. 



ELSENBURG, MULDER'S VLEI, CAPE. 



Janu.\ry, 1920. 



Exceptionally diy and hot weather prevailed. The total rainfall regis- 

 tered was but 0.03 inches as against the normal average of 0.96 inches, and the 

 >Iiade temperature reached 98° F. on several occasions. As a result the summer 

 <rops (maize and rape mainly) suffered and are not up to usual .standard at the 

 time of writing, and natural grazing is scarce. Considerable scorching of fruit 

 occurred in both vineyard and orchard and young fruit trees are somewhat 

 back wa id. 



Farm and Live Stock. — Field operations were carried out under difficulties. 

 The entire experimental fields for 1920 experiments were disc-cultivated, about 

 S5 acres of farm land ploughed, and about 30 acres under maize cultivated. 

 'I'here are approximately 40 acres of land under maize, 20 acres being under 

 irrigation. This crop will be used for ensilage. About 45 acres of land are 

 under rape, which provided feed for the stock during December and January. 

 Further, there are 2o to 30 acres of lucerne lands, and a few acres under 

 sorghums. 



The grape crop appears to be ripening fairly well. Varieties susceptible to 

 oidium had been sulphured at the end of December, and no trace of the disease 

 <an be noticed. A certain amount of summer pruning was carried out in the 

 orchard and the bulk of the plum crop harve.sted. The quality of the latter was 

 uniformly good. 



At the time of writing the live stock, in spite of the scarcity of natural feed, 

 are all in good condition, except a few individuals, notably among the sheep. 

 Fortunately a considerable quantity of oat and vetch silage has been available. 

 The cattle herds were submitted to tests for contagious abortion early in the 

 month by Mr. J. B. Quinlan, M.R.C.V.S. The Elsenburg herds were found to 

 be quite free of the disease, but four cows of the Mariendahl herd reacted to 

 the test; a few others were doubtful cases, among them the bull used by the 

 previous owner of the farm. The four cows and the bull were immediately dis- 

 posed of to the butcher. 



Experimental and Investigational Work. — A considerable amount of experi- 

 mental and investigational work is in progress in the several divisions. 



Extension Work. — A great deal of extension work was carried out during the 

 month in most divisions of the institution, consisting mainly of external lectures, 

 visits to farms in order to give advice, and attendance at the offices of the 

 Department of Agriciiltui'c, Capetown, for consultation purposes. Worthy of 

 special mention is the short course in wine-making held at Elsenburg from the 

 •5th to the 10th of January (inclusive), which was attended by twenty-four men, 

 and included both lectures and laboratory work. 



On the 22nd instant the Annual Poultry Conference was held at Elsenburg 

 and was attended by some 220 pei-sons. It was very successful, the lectures and 

 papers l)eing of a high order and the discussion following each most keen. 



On the 13th instant a party of Aristralian troops paid a visit to the institu- 

 tion and evinced great interest in the various phases of work being carried out. 



The School. — The number of applications received to date for the present 

 school year, which will commence on 2nd February, is far in excess of the 

 accommodation of Elsenburg and Mariendahl together. The enrolment of 

 accepted students to date numbers 93, of whom 57 are returned soldiers. 



February, 1920. 



The severe drought of the past months continued unbroken, except for a 

 •small precipitation of 0.17 inches on the 9th instant which afforded a very slight 

 measure of relief. This represents the total rainfall for the month as against 

 the normal average of 0.49 inches. The weather was somewhat hot and windy, 

 but not excessive in either respect. The maximum temperature recorded was 

 95° F. on the 2nd instant and the miminum 49.5° F. on the 24th. 



