5u2 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



School. — The regular students left for their vacation on the 23rd, and the 

 Sheep and Wool an^ Horticulture and Poultry Short Courses commenced on 

 the 30th. Thirty-five .students for the sheep and wool and eighteen for the horti- 

 culture and poultry course were admitted. 



The dairy building is nearing completion jvnd work on three staff houses is 

 also proceeding. 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG, CAPE. 



During the month the weather experienced was undoubtedly the worst ever 

 recorded in this part of the country for this period of the year. The following 

 are the minimum readings of over 10 degrees of frost since the 25th May : 

 27th May, 17 degrees of frost; 28th May, 13 degrees; 29th May, 11 degrees; 

 1st June, 12 degrees; 2nd June, 13 degrees; 7th June, 10 degrees; 24th June, 

 15 degrees. 



This extreme cold has been accompanied by heavy windstorms, correspond- 

 ing with the heavy rainstorms experienced in the Western Province. 



Field Operations and Crops. — Twenty-one acres of land were prepared and 

 laid down to oats; thirty aci'es of " boer manna " was hai-vested : the crop was 

 very inferior. Many tons also of vlei hay were harvested. 



Live Stock.- — The condition of live stock, on the whole, is good. The stud 

 sheep are lambing slowly, and the lambs are looking well. Cattle have, however, 

 fallen off in condition, due to the excessive cold and high Avinds. Eighteen 

 ostriches were sold at the local stock fair, and, considering the market, realized 

 fair prices. 



Experimental and Investigational Work. — A large number of experimental 

 plots have been sown, and a considerable area for dry land experiments is in 

 course of preparation. Investigational work is being carried out in connection 

 with the liver tape-worm in sheep, etc. 



Buildings. — On the 24th of May the office block of buildings, including the 

 engineer's lecture-room, the agronomy laboratory, library, etc., was destroyed 

 by fire, with all records. The students' quarters are at present being used, but 

 it is hoped that permanent offices will be erected in the near future. 



Students. — The special dairy course, sheep and wool course, six-months' 

 soldier course, and diploma course students left for their holidays on the 5th 

 June, and, with the exception of the diploma course men, the rest of the 

 students resume duty on the 29th instant. On the 9th instant, the nine-days' 

 sheep and wool course opened with 54 students, and the special nine-days' course 

 in dairying, poultry, and horticulture opened on the same date with 10 students. 

 These courses were completed on the 19th instant, and on the 21st instant the 

 three-weeks' general course opened with 18 students. 'All the short course 

 students have proved exceptionally keen at their work, and it is regretted that 

 a number of applications had to be refused, due to lack of accommodation. 



POTCHEFSTROOM, TRANSVAAL. 



Extremely cold weather was experienced during the whole month. Minimum 

 temperatures of 19° were registered on four nights. The absolute minimum 

 for the month was 18.4° F., which occurred on the 27th instant. No rain fell. 

 The extreme cold weather, it is thought, will have a beneficial effect in destroy- 

 ing stalk bojer on land ploughed after the maize crop was removed. 



Farm Section. — The supply of irrigation water available has been adequate 

 for irrigating the vegetable garden, and also 250 acres, including all the land 

 under winter cereals. The following varieties of wheat were sown at the begin- 

 ning of the month on large plots, varying from ^ acre to 6 acres : American 

 No. 8, Gluyas Early, Spring Early, Black Don, Pusa No. 4, Pusa No. 12, Come- 

 back, Bombay, Federation, and Lalkusawala. 



Twenty acres were sown to the variety American No. 8, which is showing 

 great promise in this section of the country. It is favoured by the miller, yields 

 well, and is resistant to attack by birds. About 15 bushel lots were distributed 

 free to farmers in this and other districts for co-operative experiments. 



