466 Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



parts of the Uuion, and was therefore exceedingly difficult to deal 

 with. Despite the obstacles encountered, the division was successful 

 in accounting for most of the locusts before any great damage had 

 been done to the crops. Valuable lessons in dealing with the plague 

 were learnt from this campaign ; unfortunately it iiad become evident 

 that the prospect of eventually exterminating the pest within the 

 Union was remote, and that constant vigilance was necessary in order 

 to cope with future outbreaks. 



During 1917-18 the division was chiefly occupied in suppressing 

 locusts, in inspecting* nurseries and imported plants, and advising 

 farmers on matters relating to injurious insects. Attention was given 

 to many insect pests, such as the maize stalkborer, pea and bean 

 weevils, Arg*entine ant, antesia bug, vine mealy bug, white ant, scale 

 insects, etc. A number of bulletins and articles were issued and 

 numerous addresses delivered at farmers' meetings and at schools and 

 colleges. Unfortunately, foul brood of bees was discovered in several 

 parts of the south-western Cape Province, this being* the first notice 

 of this trouble in South Africa. Owing principally to the war, but 

 also because many plants, formerly imported, are now being ra.sed in 

 the country, there was a decrease in the number reaching the Union 

 from overseas. 



Contrary to expectations, there was a severe outbreak of brown 

 locusts, more extensive than any since the great visitation of a decade 

 previous. The campaign to combat the plague was carried out on the 

 same lines as in previous years. Hatching took place in the drier and 

 more remote parts of the Union, over an area of approximately 200,000 

 square miles. This necessitated much arduous work, and credit is due 

 to the officers who, as a result of their labours, compassed the destruc- 

 tion of 37,800 swarms of voetgangers. Yery few swarms escaped. 

 Unfortunately, the campaign was attended by a number of deaths of 

 live stock by poisoning*, but this was due to abnormal climatic condi- 

 tions in certain areas, coupled with carelessness in the use of the locust 

 poison. A measure of compensation was given for losses of stock in 

 cases where animals had died from grazing on veld on which locusts 

 liad been destroyed. The campaign is estimated to have cost £26,000, 

 of which the Government's share, including compensation, was 

 £16,500. The damage done by the locusis was comparatively light 

 because they were quickly killed, but, had tliey been allowed to fly, 

 the swarms would undoubtedly have caused enormous damage in the 

 more fertile and closely settled parts of the country, and their descen- 

 dants would have caused still greater havoc. 



Chemistry. 



The Division of Chemistry investigates problems of general or 

 special importance and, in conjunction with similar work carried out 

 at the agricultural schools, undertakes the analysis for farmers of 

 soils, manures, and foodstuffs. 



During 1914-15 the officers of the division were fully occupied in 

 coping with the analytical and other work relegated to it. The 

 control of the sale of fertilizers in the Cape Province, the only 

 Province where legislation in that respect was in force, was continued. 

 Since then new fertilizer legislation for the Union has been introduced 

 (Act No. 21 of 1917), which falls under the administration of the 

 dhemistry Division. 



