276 Journal of the Department of A(4Riculture. 



of the year. The disease is the result of two ditferent conditions/ one 

 intimately connected with the pasture and leading to abnormal craving, 

 and the other the intoxication with the toxin that is contained in 

 putrid material. Horse-sickness, pernicious anaemia, slapziekte, jag- 

 ziekte, and dunziekte in horses; anthrax, imapunga (black lung), 

 contagious abortion, and stijfziekte in cattle ; geeldikkop, scab, wire- 

 worm, and gouwziekte in sheep ; chick disease and worms in ostriches ; 

 were all subjects for research during the year, and details of the 

 results are published in the Annual Report of the Director. 



DaIB YIN(! . 



In June, 1914, the Superintendent of Dairying completed an 

 extensive tour of Australia and jN^ew Zealand, and his report contains 

 valuable information regarding the exportation of dairy production 

 and other matters affecting the industry. During that year (1914-15) 

 two experiments in the shipment of cream and butter were made, and 

 one of these consignments was reported on as unsurpassed by butter 

 from any other British Dominion. 



There were fifty-two creameries, seventy cheese factories, and 

 about ninety-seven clieeseries in the Union in 1915-16, and the pro- 

 duction of butter and cheese made satisfactory progress, pointing to 

 a rapid development of the industry and the near approach of an 

 export trade. Small test shipments demonstrated the fact that South 

 African creamery butter would be favourably received on the English 

 market. Very high prices, ranging from Is. 6d. to Is. lOd. per lb., 

 were paid for butter-fat during the season. 



During the year 1916-17 the development of dairying went on 

 apace and the importations of butter and cheese, so considerable in 

 earlier years, were reduced to small dimensions, and, moreove]', the 

 year was an epoch-making one in the history of South African 

 dairying, for it witnessed the beginning of the export trade in butter. 

 Evidence of the growing interest of farmers in the industry was shown 

 in the numerous requests for assistance received by the Dairying Divi- 

 sion, whose officers were kept exceedingly busy iu giving' advice by 

 letter and in person, as well as in giving- lectures and demonstrations 

 and judging at shows, etc. The best of the butter and cheese sent to 

 England during the year was very favourably reported on and realized 

 as much as the best Canadian and New Zealand buttor, but a good 

 deal of it lacked uniformity and quality. 



The year 1917-18 saw further strides in the imlustiy. Greater 

 quantities of butter than formerly were exported, and the imports fell 

 to a negligible figure. Not only was the production of butter and 

 cheese sufficient for our own requirements, but a considerable surplus 

 of butter and a small surplus of cheese were exported, for which, 

 owing to the needs of the British Government, an excellent market 

 was obtained. The growth of cheese-niitking in particular was 

 remarkable, the number of cheese factories increasing from the few 

 not many years previously to no less than 120. During* the year a 

 Cheese Grader and Instructor for Ea.st Griqualand was appointed (and 

 not long after cheese from this part of the Union obtained first and 

 second prizes in competition with the produce of other British 

 Dominions at the Islington Show, 1919), and a milk record scheme was 

 instituted by the Friesland Cattle Breeders' Association (the milk 

 records being supervised and controlled by this division), which will 



