610 Journal op the Department of Agriculture. 



" Prmshof " : Land for Experiments. 



The property " Priusiiof." situated to the west of, and iu tiie 

 near vicinity of the Union Buildings, Pretoria, has been placed at 

 the disposal of the Department of Agriculture for purposes of carry- 

 ing out experimental work. The property was being temporarily 

 used by the Faculty of Agriculture of the Transvaal University 

 College, who are in process of vacating it, and the Department will 

 enter into possession at an early date. In consequence of " Prinshof " 

 being taken over, the botanical station of the Department at Groen- 

 kloof, near Pretoria, will be closed and transferred to " Prinshof." 

 This will not, however, interfere with the veld-burning experiments 

 under the direction of Dr. Phillips, which will be continued on 

 portion of Groenkloof. 



New Chemical Laboratories. 



The new chemical laboratory buildings on the western slopes of 

 Meintjes Kop are nearing completion, and will afford a welcome vAd 

 to the Department in its activities. The buildings present a tine 

 appearance, are fitted with all the latest appliances, and will 

 house the Division of Chemistry which for many years has beeji 

 labouring under adverse conditions in inadequate quarters. 

 The Division will take possession at an early date, and 

 the situation of their new quarters near " Prinshof " will be of great 

 convenience for carrying out experiments on the newly acquired 

 land for that purpose, facilities which were sadly needed by the 

 Division and the lack of which proved a great handicap in the past. 



Dip-testing Apparatus. 



Eeferring to the evidence g-iveu on the value of dipping, 

 the Select Committee on the spread of East Coast fever in the Union 

 states, in the course of its report, that the proof is overwhelming as 

 to dipping and hand-dressing being' the only antidote to 

 effect the eventual eradication of the disease, and urges that no 

 pains should be spared in killing off the tick, which is proved to be 

 the carrier of nearly every known cattle disease throughout the 

 Union. The report brings out also the importance of dip testing, 

 and recommends that all dipping tanks should be tested regularly at 

 least once a month. The evidence is strong on this point, for, as 

 one witness stated in affirming the absolute necessity of testing the 

 solution. "It is no good dipping unless you have the right strength 

 of dip. . . . What is the use of dipping if your dip is not in order? " 

 In this connection we wish to point out, in view of the importance 

 of farmers being in possession of an efficacious dip tester, that a 

 suitable apparatus has been devised by Dr. Green, Biochemist at the 

 Government Veterinary Laboratory, Onderstepoort. A clear and 

 full description of the instrument, etc., is published in the Third 

 and Fouith Reports of the Director of Veterinary Research (Novem- 

 ber, 1915). The instrument is not on the market, nor is it patented, 

 and the attention of those interested in the matter is directed to the 

 publication referred to. 



