470 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



satisfactory condition, but in some there was room for much improve- 

 ment. The country presents many difficulties in the firm establish- 

 ment of co-operative societies, and the lack of interest taken by the 

 members as a whole in the work of those in existence continued to 

 be one of the chief weaknesses. Experience showed, however, that 

 many of the troubles into which societies had fallen could be guarded 

 ag-ainst by strict supervision, and the division, in conjunction with 

 the Land Bank, made every effort to control and guide the societies 

 to their advantage. 



Agricultural co-operation continued to expand, and in 1917-18 

 the number of societies had increased, there being sixteen in the 

 Transvaal and seven in the Orange Free State. The number of 

 members was 9818, and the total turnover £594,477. While the 

 membership was not as large as two years previously, the stamp of 

 members had improved considerably owing to the expulsion of useless 

 ones and the admission of such only as were likely to be useful and 

 loyal. A conference of representatives of the societies was held in 

 Pretoria, at which important matters relating to co-operation were 

 discussed. On the whole, a considerable improvement was manifested 

 during the year, the well-managed societies continuing to progress 

 and the weaker ones awakening to the methods ensuring success. The 

 division exercised careful control, and every effort was made to guide 

 the societies so as to avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of the past. 



In addition to the societies registered under the Co-operative Agri- 

 cultural Societies Acts in force, there are a number of others, formed 

 and conducted by farmers and others interested in rural pursuits for 

 their mutual benefit, which do not fall under any of the Acts referred 

 to, and though they have not adopted the principle of unlimited 

 liability they are essentially co-operative in character. These societies 

 have been confined mainly to the Cape and Natal Provinces and deal 

 with many matters concerning the preparation and sale of produce, 

 purchasing of supplies, etc., and vary considerably, as might be 

 expected, in size and in the extent of their operations. They -have 

 had their difficulties to contend with, and all have not been uniformly 

 successful, but the majority have done well. The scientific and 

 technical officers of this Department have assisted all types of society 

 impartially, and have even been instrumental in establishing some of 

 them. 



Dry-land Farming. 



The Division oE Dry-land Farming conducts experiments and 

 disseminates information in regard to cultural methods of agriculture 

 known as dry- farming. 



In 1914-15 two of the subsidiary Dry-land Experiment Stations 

 were closed down, the central station at Lichtenburg and the one at 

 Pietersburg, conducted in co-opeiation with the municipality there, 

 being maintained. While the Division's activities were curtailed in 

 this direction, they were expanded by greater attention being given 

 to co-operative experiments carried out on farms by farmers them- 

 selves, a policy adopted for the fatui'e operations of the division. 

 Experiments were carried out and information disseminated during 

 the year in regard to the improvement of the system of farming 

 generally and to the proper methods of dry-farming particularly, and 

 evidence continued to come to hand of greater yields per acre on 



