Schools of AGfticULtuRE and Experiment Stations. 599 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG, CAPE. 



Climatic. — During tlie month no rain fell, and drought conditions are 

 becoming severe in 'parts. High winds and cold have been prevalent; in 

 fact, the wind experienced is unparalleled for this month. The springs in 

 the Karroo are unusually strong, and, in many instances, are far stronger 

 than they have been since the big snowstorm at the close of the Anglo-Boer 

 war. 



Temperature recorded : Maximum, 73° on the 20th ; minimum, 18° on 

 the 18th. 



Field Operations and Crops.- — Considerable field work was carried out 

 during the niontli; 30 acres of land were ploughed, levelled, bedded, and sown 

 to oats. Approximately 70 acres of lucerne and oats were irrigated from 

 the springs and conservation dam, and some 30 tons of vlei-hay were stacked. 



Live Stock. — In spite of the inclement weather the live stock at the institu- 

 tion are in good order. Stud sheep are lambing and the lambs are exceptionally 

 fine. The veld cattle, Herefords and Africanders, are in splendid condition, 

 but the working cattle are rather lower than usual at this time of the year. 

 In the area falling under Grootfontein there has been a number of outbreaks 

 of diseases amongst sheep, which, in some instances, are causing serious losses. 

 It is hoped to report further on this at a later date. 



Field Experiments. — Many of the cereal experiments sown last month are 

 now looking well, and the sheep-feeding experiment is showing some striking 

 results with regard to the effect of grazing different varieties of oats, wheats, 

 and barleys, etc. 



Students. — The short courses terminated on the 21st of this month (July). 

 For the nine-days' sheep and wool course 83 applications were received, but 

 owing to lack of accommodation only 62 were accepted, of which 58 finally 

 took the course. The nine-days' course in poultry, horticulture, and dairying 

 was attended by 10 students, and the three-weeks' general course by 21. All 

 these students were particularly keen on their work. The .special dairy, sheep, 

 and wool course students and returned soldiers came into residence on the 

 1st July, and the diploma course stiidents resumed duty on the 21st July. 



POTCHEFSTROOM, TRANSVAAL. 



Climatic. — Cold weather was experienced during the month. The absolute 

 minimum temperature registered was 27.0° on the 6th, and the absolute 

 maximum 76.8°. No rain fell during the period. 



Farm Section. — The main farm operations consisted of harvesting maize, 

 sorting and classifying the crops for seed purposes. A good crop of Potchef- 

 stroom Pearl seed is being obtained. Three hundred and sixteen bags of maize 

 were thrashed for feeding purposes. About 160 acres of land were irrigated 

 during the month, which include the 140 acres sown to winter cei'eals. The 

 windbreak of eucalyptus trees along the main irrigation canal has been thinned 

 to supply the farm with timber. A considerable amount of gravel was carted 

 to repair the roads of the institution. Stones were removed from 28 acres of 

 lucerne land. 



Live Stock. — Cattle are in good condition considering the time of the year 

 and the bad season. The Hereford, Sussex, and Africander breeding herds were 

 brought in from Brakspruit and put to the respective bulls during the month. 

 The two former herds were allowed to run on mealie stalks in temporarily fenced 

 fields in the arable section of this farm ; both are in good condition. The 

 Africander herd was run in the far railway camp ; the animals are in fair 

 condition only, as the grazing is poor. The object of running bulls of the beef 

 breed with the respective herds during the month of July is to obtain April 

 calviugs from those cows which were not settled during the summer. 



Six cross-bred Sussex-Africander cows and heifers were sold at a local sale 

 in accordance with the arranged plan of abandoning the cross-breeding work on 

 Mendelian lines. Two Large Black boais wei-e sold for breeding purposes. 

 324 head of cattle were tested for tuberculosis, and all sale bulls were inoculated 

 for red-water and gall-sickness, which caused the animals to drop somewhat in 

 condition. 71 Wanganella lambs were born during the month. 



