ISi; Journal of the DepartmeiXt of Agriculture. 



caused a good deal of trouble and was prevalent — one outbreak in 

 lioshoi being more virulent in type than any previously experienced. 

 Contagious abortion caused considerable loss, and no satisfactory 

 method for treating the disease has been devised. Early in the year 

 disquieting reports were received of the spread of rinderpest iu 

 (xernian East Africa, and with a view to preventing the spread of the 

 disease southward a commission was sent to inquire into the matter. 

 This commission was occupied for over a year, and as a result of their 

 efforts their object seems to have been achieved by the immunizatiou 

 of about 100,000 head of native cattle in a belt of country extending 

 from Lake Xyasa to Lake Tanganyika, wdiich checked the southward 

 extension of the disease. The season being a wet one, a number of 

 non-proclaimed diseases, such as horse-sickness, blue-tongue, wire- 

 worm and other parasites in sheep were more prevalent, but, on the. 

 other hand, gallamziekte in cattle was less in evidence than usual. 

 The supervision of meat exported was continued, practically the whole 

 quantity exported, 279,085 quarters, which arrived in good condition, 

 being purchased by the Lnperial Government at 5|d. per lb. f.o.b. 

 The meat, which was largely derived from unimproved cattle of the 

 country, Avas reported as being good, but a fair amount of it was 

 considered only third rate in quality, being apparently from oldish 

 animals. 



(This review will be continued in subsequent issues of the 

 Journal.) 



Maize Production in the Four Provinces. 



The following table showing the total production of maize in 

 the four Provinces will prove useful for purposes of comparison (note : 

 I muid - 200 lb.): — 



Census lyil Census 1918 Estimated Estimated 



Provikce. (1910 Crop). (1918 Crop). Crop, 1919. Crop, 1920. 



Muids. Muids. Molds. Miiids. 



Cape of Good Hope 1,727,864 2,387,488 1.415,000 1,296,000 



Natal 1,805,745 1,443,898 1,855.000 2,143,200 



Transvaal 3,310,613 4,553,921 5,139,000 5,536,500 



Orange Free State 1,788,294 4,254,784 3,151,000 3,765,300 



Total— Union ... 8,632,516 12,640,091 11,560,000 12,741,600* 



Thus the Union's production of maize in 1918 was 46 per cent, 

 greater than it was eight years previously, while the 1919 crop is 

 estimated to be 8.5 per cent, less than that of 1918, owing principally 

 to unfavourable conditions. 



The above figures show that in 1918 the Union's total crop was 

 produced as follows:- — 



In Cape of Good Hope 19 per cent. 



In Natal 11 per cent. 



In Transvaal 36 per cent. 



In Orange Free State 34 per cent. 



100 per cent. 



* Preliminary estimate. Adverse weather has reduced the prospects. See the Crop 

 Report on page 21 S. 



