Experiments and Investigations. 389 



Animai- Husi!am)!;v Division. 



Determining' tJie relative efficiency ot cross-breeding- reruns 

 straiglit-breeding- in tlie economical production of bacon pigs with 

 ordinary farm foods. Data are collected as to quantities consumed 

 per pig from weaning- time till marketing-, w4tli costs of production, 

 etc. This experiment is intended to last for three years. Berkshires, 

 Large Blacks, and Tamworths are the breeds used. The Berkshires 

 and Larg-e Blacks are bred straight and also crossed both ways. 

 Tamwortli sows are crossed with both Berkshire and Large Black 

 boars. 



Chemistry Division. 



Laboratory. — (a) A study of the '" ammonification " and " nitri- 

 fication " processes under ordinary field conditions as related to the 

 soil nitrogen problem. 



(b) A study of the effect of liming of soils ,n the nitrification 

 processes. 



(c) A study of the effect of " braaking " (fallowing) land on the 

 nitrification process. 



Fat Culture. — Tests with Saldanha Bay phosphate on wheat. 



Field. — Comparison of different forms of phosphatic fertilizers on 

 limed and unlimed soils. 



Further investigations are planned and will be carried out as sor u 

 as chemical equipment arriA'es from Euiope. 



YiTic TLTiKAi. Division. 



(a) Experiments in callusing and grafting. 



(b) The suitability of American stocks for different European 



vines in different soils. 



(c) Manurial trials in vineyard. 



(d) Investigations into fermentation of wines and the use of 

 tannin and potassium metabisulphite ; also into the (larifi- 

 cation of wines by refrigeration and the use of isinglass and 

 gelatine. 



HORTICILTUKAI- Dl VIS ION. 



(a) Mauurial experiments with pears. 



(b) Budding and gi-afting olives to determine best method and 



best time of year. 



(c) Propagation of olives by cuttings — ^time and methol. 



(a) An attempt to find a more suitable apple stock than the 

 Northern Spy now used. 



(e) Pruning experiments with apples and pears to force bearing- 



of non-production trees. 

 (/) Stock expei-iment Mith plums — plum stock vcr.<ii(.^ peach. 



Botany Division. 



Investigation and experiments in the control of fusicladin7n in 

 pears. Spraying at different times between the late winter and two 

 v\'eeks after the petals ha-\e fallen ; 232 trees of different varieties are 

 under treatment. The sprays used are Lime Sulphur and Bordeaux 

 for spring nnd summer spraying', and Formalin for winter spraying. 



