lilt; Journal of the Department op A(4Rictjlture. 



food) is registered, and the chemical constituents thereof which have 

 been registered as prescribed by regulations in respect of such ferti- 

 lizer (or farm food). That statement in the invoice shall be deemed 

 to be a guarantee that the article is as described therein." vShould a 

 buyer have reason to doubt the accuracy of the guarantee the regula- 

 tions under the Act provide him with the means of having his consign- 

 ment sampled and analysed. The exact procedure to follow can be 

 ascertained from the Government regulations issued under the abo\e- 

 mentioned Act, copies of which can be obtained on application to the 

 Secretary for Agriculture, Pretoria. An article on the subject was 

 published in the April, 1920, number of the Journal. 



The importance of thorough and careful sampling is not realized 

 fully by many people. Out of a consignment of 50 tons, say, the 

 proportion sent to the analyst is almost infinitesimal, therefore 

 extreme care should be taken that this comparatively small amount is 

 thoroughly representative of the whole bulk. We very often have 

 only a fraction of an ounce forwarded to us for analysis, and that 

 perhaps taken from the mouth of one of the bags. Further, this 

 small quantity is generally sent loose in an envelope, paper-wrapper, 

 or a coarse linen or canvas bag, with the consequence that a large 

 proportion of the finer material will have escaped be'fore the package 

 has reached the laboratory. It is recommended that at least a couple 

 of pounds of the material, after careful sampling, should be forwarded 

 in a close-fitting tin or wooden box and sealed. 



Should a bona fide farmer require an analysis to be done without 

 making use of the machinery of the Act for the purpose the same 

 care should be taken with the sampling, and a copy of the guaranteed 

 analysis should accompany the sample in all cases. The fees laid 

 down in the tariff of the Department of Agriculture for such analysis 

 amount to ten shillings only, provided that no more than three 

 detenninations are involved in the analysis, otherwise the fee charged 

 is fifteen shillings. This work is done in the laboratories of the 

 various Schools of Agriculture throughout the Fnion. 



In addition to the analysis of the fertilizers we are always ready 

 to advise farmers with regard "to the valuation and comparison of any 

 particular fertilizers they seek information about, but it is difficult, 

 however, to give definite opinion concerning the suitability of a certain 

 fertilizer for a particular crop on the soil in question and to advise on 

 the best amount io apply. This depends largely on the capabilities of 

 the soil, and although a chemical analysis of the soil will very often 

 help considerably in coming to a decision on the matter, the chemical 

 composition of the soil as revealed by such analysis is only one of the 

 many factors that govern its fertility; the climate, the aspect, the 

 natural drainage, the physical structure and mechanical constitu- 

 tion of the soil, the mode of cultivation adopted, etc., have all, in 

 addition to the composition of the soil, a great deal to do with its 

 natural fertility. 



Lime Manures. 



These include all the so-called " lime materials " that are applied 

 to the soil chiefly for their ameliorative effect on its texture and 

 acidity. The different forms of lime employed for this purpose are : — 



1 . — Calciuvi Oxide . 



This is applied ohiefiy in the form of quicklime or burnt lime, 

 which is manufactured bv heating some form of natural calcium 



