Experiments and Investigations. 107 



Fibre Crops. 



TriaJs are in jJiogTess with several species of fibre i)]aiils to 

 ascertain the most promising' under local conditions. Sisal, Furcraea, 

 N^ew Zealand Flax, and other fibres are beino- cultivated. 



Frlits. 



Pineapples. — Variety trials with about a dozen varieties are in 

 prog'ress. Distance of planting experiments running' conjointly with 

 a rotation experiment with various leg'umes are also in progress. The 

 leg-umes, which pineapjjles are following-, are g-rouud nuts, ovvpeas, 

 and Canadian Wonder beans. 



Btiiurnas. — Variety trials with about tAventy varieties have been 

 in progress for some time now, and the sections are coming into 

 bearing, so that data will soon be available as to tlie variety which is 

 proving itself most suited to the coastal lielt. 



Citrus. — Trials with several varieties of oranges, lemons, and 

 grape fruit have been in progress several years, and data now are 

 becoming available as to the advisability or otherwise of endeavouring 

 to grow citrus on the coast belt. 



Mangoes and Avocada Fears. — Sections of land have lately been 

 planted with l)oth these varieties of fruits, and research work into 

 their grafting, budding, etc.. with im])roved varieties is being under- 

 taken. 



Starch Ck-ops. 



The chief starch-producing crops grown, tliougii not for extrac- 

 tion purposes, are sweet jjotatoes, arrowroot, and cassava, xlbout 

 fifteen varieties of sweet potatoes are undergoing trial, ten of these 

 having very recently been received from T^.S.A. It is expected to 

 find from these, varieties that will reach maturity during the short 

 summer months frequently experienced on the high veld. 



Several varieties of arrowroot and cassava are under trial. 



Ginger is also grown and large crops ])roduced, but tliere api)ears 

 to be no market for tlie ginger root at ])resent. 



Wet Hides for Shipment— Marking of G-oods. 



The Union-Castle Mail S.S. Company draw attention to the 

 extreme difficulty experienced by their London principals in sorting 

 out according to marks the various shipments of wet hides. This is 

 attributed to the fact that the tin disk attached to each bundle rusts, 

 with the result that the marks are illegible on arrival at the port of 

 discharge. It has therefore been decided by the Railway Dei)artment 

 that only consignments bearing zinc or strong galvanized-iron or 

 wooden disks with the marks clearly stami)ed thereon are to be 

 accepted for shipment. 



