Notes. 397 



The Department is alive to the pressing necessity of extirpating- 

 East Coast fever, and attention is being g-iven to further scientific 

 research into tick destruction and a specific remedy for the disease. 

 The fencing of infected areas is an important feature in controlling 

 the spread of the disease and facilities for the speedier supply of 

 fencing and dipping materials than at present obtains are being con- 

 sidered. But the success of any operations depends in a large measure 

 upon the curtailment of the movements of cattle, and if the co-opera- 

 tion of the community could be obtained in the suspension of ox 

 transport for a reasonable period in any infected district, the position 

 could be manifestly improved. In like manner the quarantine period, 

 although irksome to stock owners, will need to be rigorously enforced. 



The regulations governing the control of East Coast fever are well 

 known. In the April, 1920, number of the Journal an article was 

 published giving- practical hints for the prevention and eradication 

 of the disease. That the ill-effects of the war have retarded the 

 control of the disease is unfortunate, but that greater ills in extensive 

 outbreaks have not followed is correspondingly fortunate. The 

 alarming spread of the disease in Pretoria is an outcome of the 

 disabilities occasioned by lack of men and materials and to some 

 extent to public indifference to the requirements of the law respecting 

 diseases of stock. The Department views the position seriously but 

 does not consider that, generally, it is critical. By all means in its 

 power will it g*rapple with the spreading disease, and it looks to the 

 farming community, especially those in, or in the neighbourhood of, 

 infected areas, to co-operate with it in stamping out the disease. 



G-rain Elevators. 



The attention of farmers is directed to the report* of Mr. Wm. 

 Littlejolm Philip on the subject of grain elevators, a matter of great 

 public interest and far-reaching- importance to farmers. The report 

 states: "An elevator system may g-enerally be described as follows: 

 A system of handling grain in bulk instead of in bag; a system 

 which deals with all kinds of grain, whether for local consumption or 

 export and of handling the grain in the most economical manner; a 

 system of providing safe storage and negotiable certificate ; and a 

 system which is particularly economical from a Eailway and Harbour 

 point of view." The report sets out plainly the many advantages of 

 an elevator system which is devised not solely to facilitate export trade 

 but for inland trade as well. 



Mr. Littlejohn Philip's recommendations are substantially those 

 of the Grain Elevators Committee, excepting that instead of three 

 port elevators he advocates that two only (one at Durban and one at 

 Capetown) should be erected at present, and instead of sixty-two 

 country elevators seventy-one are considered necessai-y. The two 

 elevators for the ports are proposed to have a storage capacity of 72,000 

 tons and the seventy-one country elevators 160,200 tons, the estimated 

 total cost involved being £1,799.000. Against this outlay the net 

 financial saving which will accrue to the counti-y is estimated at 

 £479.055 per annum. 



* " Grain Elevators for Union of South Africa." Obtainable from the Government 

 Printer, Pretoria, Price 3s. 



