4G8 Journal op the Department of Agriculture, 



of paper-making- within the Union and in investigating the supplies 

 of fertilizers available in the country, at the request of the Scientific 

 and Technical Committee. He also furnished the committee with 

 reports on several other subjects and investigated a number o£ 

 substances of importance to the country. The results of these investi- 

 gations are discussed in his annual report. 



The Library. 



The object of the library is to provide as complete a collection of 

 agricultural literature as possible for the purpose of reference. The 

 library is open to the public and books may be borrowed on certain 

 conditions. 



Owing to the situation arising through the war and the need for 

 curtailing expenditure the publication of the Agricultural Jmtrnal was 

 suspended in 1914, and the librarian was entrusted with the issue of 

 all reports and bulletins, etc., printed. These publications were 

 issued gratis to applicants up to 1st October, 1918, but with a view to 

 preventing wastage of the bulletins a small charge was then placed on 

 some of the more important ones. The following table shows the 

 number of publications published and the number of copies issued 

 to applicants each year : — 



NuTuher of Publications. 

 1915-16. 1916-17. " 1917-18. 1918-19. 



176 91 97 88 



Number of Bulletins, etc., Issued to Applicants. 



191.5-16. 19ie-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. 



(Figures not available) 6,500 47,940 44,026 



In view of the need for keeping expenditure within the lowest 

 possible limits, the grant for the library for the period of the war 

 was reduced. Progress was maintained, however, and the library 

 was added to to the extent shown in the following table : — 



Additions to Library of Corriplete Bound Volumes. 

 1915-16. 1916-17. 1917-18. 1918-19. 



616 565 718 853 



The scope of literature in the library may be gauged by its 

 contents, there being at the 31st March, 1919, 8080 bound volumes 

 and 5000 unbound volumes, with 13,700 bulletins and leaflets and 

 2000 periodicals. In addition to this, some 13,800 books are deposited 

 with the divisions and schools. Mention should also be made of the 

 acquisition at a cost of £500 of the Galpin Library, which is housed 

 with the Division of Botany, Pretoria. 



A feature of the year 19.15-16 was the inauguration of the scheme 

 to lend books from the library to farmers on payment of a deposit and 

 postage, and on 31st March, 1919, some 233 farmers were availing 

 themselves of the privilege. 



