The Department of Agriculture during the War. 467 



The division was mainly occupied with the analyses of soils, 

 manures, and feeding stuffs during 1915-16. Owing to lack of facili- 

 ties and smallness of the staff, which conditions then prevailing 

 prevented increasing, little research was possible. The situation was 

 relieved to some extent, however, by work carried out at the labora- 

 tories at the agricultural schools and experiment stations. None of 

 the soils analysed during the year presented any very striking 

 features, the general characteristics being a poverty of lime and 

 phosphates and a sufficiency of potash in available form. A large 

 number of samples of bat guano were analysed ; the manure was 

 found to be variable in composition owing to the amount of sand or 

 earth mixed with it, and usually of poor quality. Samples of lime- 

 stone submitted showed that lime admirably adapted for agricultural 

 purposes was available. 



The year 1916-17 brought a heavy loss to the division in the 

 death of its Chief, Mr. H. J. Vipond, who was killed in action in 

 Flanders in February, 1917. Dr. Marchand acted as chemist, and 

 the appointment has since been confirmed. During the year 

 Dr. Juritz was transferred from the Department of the Interior to 

 this Department as Agricultural llesearch Chemist. He is stationed 

 at Capetown and conducts' investigations and collects information on 

 subjects of special or pressing- imj)ortance. 



The division was occupied almost entirely with analyses of 

 various substances of importance from an agricultural point of view, 

 of which soils and fertilizers formed the greater portion. The soils 

 analysed proved to be very similar in type to those analysed in 

 previous years, and were usually sufficiently supplied with potash, but 

 deficient in lime and phosphates. It was pointed out that farmers 

 do not inform the division of the results obtained from the treatment 

 recommended by it in connection with soils analysed, nor do they take 

 samples according to the method prescribed by the division, conse- 

 quently the value to the country generally obtained from these 

 analyses is not as great as it might be. The provision for chemical 

 work at the agricultural schools and experiment stations was greatly 

 improved, and while this helped to relieve the Division of Chemistry, 

 much necessary work awaiting it could not be undertaken owing to 

 lack of staff and laboratory facilities. 



Insufficient accommodation and the situation created by the war 

 prevented any extensions in 1917-18, the work undertaken by the 

 division being chiefly of a routine character, consisting mainly of the 

 analysis of soils and other substances. The analysis of soils for 

 farmers as obtaining was, it was concluded, of little value to farmers 

 or the division owing to the practical impossibility of determining the 

 requirements of a soil from a bare analysis, and the neglect of farmers 

 of carry out the instructions for the taking of samples and to inform 

 the division of the results of its recommendations for manurial and 

 other treatment of the soil analysed. It was considered that, instead, 

 greater advantage would result from a systematic soil survey of the 

 Union. Regulations to be enforced under the Fertilizers Act were 

 drafted by a conference composed of the Acting Chemist, the llesearch 

 Chemist, and the Lecturer in Chemistry at each of the schools of 

 agriculture. 



During the year the llesearch Chemist at Capetown was chiefly 

 occupied in conducting inquiries into the possibilities and prospects 



