The Department of Agriculture during the War. 471 



account of a growing knowledge of the system, better seed, and 

 cultivation. Cultivation was extended in consequence, also the use 

 of up-to-date agricultuial implements. Some good results were 

 obtained from experiments in wheat and oats tested for rust resistance. 



Much work was done by the division during 1915-16 in spreading^ 

 the knowledge of dry-farming and the suitability of certain tested 

 crops for dry areas by letter, lecture, and co-operative experiments 

 on the farm, as well as by experiments conducted at the stations. A 

 great amount of interest in the better utilization of the soil in the 

 drier (and generally more backward) parts of the Union was aroused, 

 resulting in improved methods of farming in those areas. The system 

 of co-operative experiments conducted by farmers on their farms under 

 the supervision of the division was extended, and not only was the 

 expense proved to be less, but the good to be accomplished greater 

 than would be the case in experiments carried out at subsidiary 

 stations as largely practised in the past. 



The policy of co-operative experiments was further extended in 

 1916-17, and, owing to circumstances arising through lack of staff, 

 necessity for curtailed expenditure, etc., arrangements were Aiade for 

 closing at the end of the year the Dry-land Station at Lichtenburg 

 which had been established in January, 1909. 



For purposes of co-operative experiments, £500 was set aside for 

 the purchase of seed true to type. The small staff composing the 

 division was fully employed in furthering its objects by encouraging 

 farmers in the conservation of water and best methods of cultivating 

 the soil, advocating, lecturing, and demonstrating the use of dought- 

 resistant crops suitable for dry areas and in many other ways 

 advanciag the cause of the agriculturist. There was a marked 

 awakening' among many farmers in such matters as studying soils and 

 climatic conditions, the value of experiments on the farm, the proper 

 preparation of seed-beds, the use of up-to-date implements, the 

 suppression of weeds, the value of sufficient humus and increasing 

 the water-holding capacity and fertility of the soil, the need to 

 ascertain the most suitable crop, and so on. While the principles of 

 cultivation, etc . advocated by the Department were receiving an 

 ever-widening circle of followers, the need for education therein was 

 still very apparent, calling for much future effort. 



Thus, during 1917-18, the division was continuously engaged in 

 advising farmers on matters relating to dry-farming and in conduct- 

 ing experiments in various parts of the country in co-operation with 

 them. Experiments were continued at the Experiment Station at 

 Pietersburg; the one at liichtenburg having been closed down, the 

 administration of the division was centred in Pretoria. An idea 

 of the extent of inquiry and adAice conducted during the year by 

 correspondence alone may be gaug'ed by the fact that 4896 letters 

 were received and 4486 dispatched. The principle of co-operative 

 experiments met with success, evidence of the lessons learnt therefrom 

 coming to hand. 



[This review will be continued in subsequent issues of the 

 Journal.^ 



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