Notes. 607 



Export of Butter and Cheese. 



The wonderful recuperative powers of Soutli Africa have again 

 been strikingly demonstrated. The severe drought experienced 

 throughout the Union during last spring and early summer practically 

 brought dairying to a standstill, for farmers, barely able to keep 

 their cattle alive in some districts, found feeding f ir milk production 

 out of the question, with the result that there was an acute shortage 

 both of butter and cheese. The break of the drought about mid- 

 February brought a remarkable change, however, and the hitherto 

 idle creameries were soon working at high pressure. 



The consumption of butter and cheese was greatly reduced during 

 the period of scarcity, owing to difficulty in obtaining supplies and 

 high prices. Butter and cheese have, however, been plentiful all 

 through the winter, but consumption has not yet returned 

 to normal. Statistics recently collected by the Division of 

 Dairying show that considerable quantities of butter and 

 cheese manufactured last season are still jield by factories, 

 and at the present rate of consumption there is no likelihood of these 

 stocks being disposed of in the Union before the new season com- 

 mences unless, of course, another drought, such as occurred last year, 

 delays the season. 



Cheese supplies have been affected by the importation of quanti- 

 ties of Australian cheese, a good deal of which still remains unsold. 



The prospects for the new season are favourable, and an early 

 commencement is expected, although production may at first be some- 

 what retarded in certain areas owing- to late calvings. 



A Successful Entomological Conference. 



In view of the importance of economic entomology and the 

 established fact that the control of insect life spells success in the 

 treatment of disease and in the production of foocl and other crops, it 

 is gratifying to learn of the satisfactory results of the recent Imperial 

 Entomological Conference held in London in June, 1920. Delegates 

 from the British Dominions, Colonies, etc., attended the conference, 

 the Union being represented by Mr. C. P. Lounsbury, Chief, Division 

 of Entomology, and many matters of great importance, both of an 

 economic and scientific nature, were discussed. Among the resolu- 

 tions passed, and evidencing the success of the conference, is one 

 advocating the holding of similar conferences every five years. 

 Another resolution recommended that the Imperial Bureau of 

 Entomology — an institution which, since its inauguration seven years 

 ago, has played such a prominent and valuable part in the entomo- 

 logical world — should be established on a permanent basis. Of special 

 interest at a time when there is such an insistent demand for expert 

 officers, is the finding of the conference " that the provision of an 

 adequate number of trained men to carry into effect existing plant 

 import legislation is of more immediate importance than the revision 

 or extension of such legislation." 



Altogether there is every reason to believe that much benefit will 

 result from the deliberations of the conference, and that Mr. 

 Lounsbury 's association with it will be of direct gain to the Union. 



