364 Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



serious disease, and all facts coming to liglit will be published. 

 Investigations were also conducted into the bacterial blight of pear 

 blossom, citrus verrucosis and mottling, blossom end rot in tomatoes, 

 and early blight in potatoes. In conjunction with the Division of 

 Veterinary Research extensive experiments were tried with the object 

 of ascertaining the relationship between vegetation and certain obscure 

 diseases of animals, and it was definitely established that two diseases 

 (geeldikkop in sheep and jagziekte in horses) are caused by particular 

 plants. Information of great scientific interest was obtained in the 

 course of these inquiries calculated to lead to important discoveries 

 in the future regarding diseases of live stock. Experiments as to the 

 economic value of local and imported plants were carried out — flax, 

 oil seeds, tanning materials, drugs, fibres, etc., useful for industrial 

 or medical purposes, receiving attention. One of them, Hibiscus 

 cannibus, gave promise of being suitable for grain bags, and if this 

 proves to be the case it will be a matter of much importance to the 

 country, as the plant grows prolifically in the Transvaal. The kikuyu 

 grass was distributed to a large number of applicants, and there was 

 also a keen demand for leaves of the spineless cactus. 



The investigations into the relationship of flora with animal 

 diseases was continued in conjunction with the Veterinary Research 

 Division in 1917-18, and researches were conducted into a number of 

 diseases that were causing damage to crops. The campaign against 

 citrus canker occupied a great deal of the division's resources, the 

 measures of dealing with the disease being continued, involving the 

 close inspection of infected orchards and the destruction of infected 

 trees, and the delicate matter of fixing a scale of compensation for 

 trees destroyed was satisfactorily arranged. Although abnormal wet 

 conditions favoured the spread of the disease, there was good reason to 

 believe that it was well in hand and would ultimately be stamped out. 

 Attention was given also to investigating plants of economic 

 importance, and valuable reports, details of which are published in 

 the Division's Annual Report, were obtained from the Imperial 

 Institute, London. During the year steps were taken to organize a 

 botanical survey of the Union. With a view to stimulating interest 

 in the suppression of noxious weeds specimens of them were displayed 

 at the chief agricultural shows and the issue of a series of popular 

 leaflets on the weeds was commenced. The demand for kikuyu grass 

 was keen, and the grass is likely to prove very useful both for pastures 

 and lawns. The delay in connection with an experiment station 

 greatly handicapped the division, preventing many important and 

 pressing lines of investigation. 



Tobacco and Cotton Division. 



As its name implies, this division is concerned with the promotion 

 of the tobacco and cotton industries. Experiments are conducted in 

 the breeding and growth of tobacco and in the curing, fermentation, 

 and preparation of tobacco for the market. Approved varieties of 

 tobacco and cotton seed are distributed amongst farmers, and advice 

 is given to them personally and by correspondence and publications. 



During the year 1914-15 the object of the division was steadily 

 pursued. The tobacco crop was unduly affected by inclement weather 

 in the Transvaal, and there was also a considerable reduction in the 

 Turkish tobacco crop. Good prices were obtained for the better 



