NOTE.S. llSi 



NOTES. 

 IMPORTANT NOTICE. 



The Journal will contain most of tlie matter published by 

 the Department. It is sent to all libraries in the Union, as 

 well as to various other institutions and societies, while the sub- 

 scription, 5s. per annum, is small, consequently it should be within 

 the reach of all. As a comprehensive index of its contents will be 

 published half-yearly, inquirers for advice on any subject which has 

 appeared in the Journal are likely in future to be referred to the 

 number in question for the information they require. 



It is essential, therefore, that all who wish to avail themselves 

 of the advice and information tendered by the Department should 

 • 



Obtain and Keep each Number, 



as published, of the Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Apart from and in addition to the matter printed in the Journal, 

 special bulletins will be published from time to time as occasion 



demands. They will be issued as "Science Bulletin No " or 



"Bulletin No ," as the case may be, notification thereof being- 

 made in the Journal and copies being- obtainable on application to 

 the Department of Agriculture. 



The Minister of Agriculture. 



It is announced (14th April, 1920) that the Hoiiourabje H. C. 

 van Heerden has resig-ned the Portfolio of Agriculture, and that this 

 Portfolio will be taken over by the Honourable F. S. Malan, in 

 addition to those of Mines and Industries and of Education. 



Sheep and Goat Skins. 



In June last year a small consignment of sheep and goat skins 

 was sent to London to ascertain whether a trade in this class of skin 

 could not be established on the market there. Reports on the con- 

 signment are to the effect that the tannage, though somewhat dark, 

 is one that would find a satisfactory sale in Londan, but that the skins 

 were very much mixed in quality, size, and substance, and would need 

 proper grading and sorting if they are to be saleable. Many of them 

 were catalogued as light in substance, broken (some very badly) on 

 the grain, ill-shapen, and holey, and lightly ribbed. Only skins of 

 good quality, evenly classed for size and substance, are saleable. 



A well-known local firm of fellmongers and tanners, commenting 

 on the matter, states that the majority of sheep-skins marketed in the 

 Union are of very inferior quality owing to lack of care by farmers. 

 The flaying is bad and the drying worse, reducing the value of the 

 skin. Greater care would mean higher prices, easily attainable by 



