692 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Extension Work.- — During the month there was the usual Lirge demand upon 

 the time of most of the oflBcers in charge of the various sections for external 

 work, mainly visits to farms in advisory capacity. 



A number of soils was examined in the chemical laboratory in regard 

 to the growth of Turkish tobacco, low productivity, "alkali" problem, etc.; 

 a number of fertilizer and other materials was also analysed. 



The School. — A new course in Apiculture has been started for both junior 

 and senior students. 



GLEN, ORANGE FREE STATE. 



(ieneriil. — The month was comparatiA'ely mild. A few duststorms were 

 experienced ; .65 inch of rain was registered on the 20th. There is still an 

 abundance of grass, and the young grass is appearing as a result of the rain. 



School. — The regular students returned from their midwinter vacation on 

 the 10th. The total number of students in residence is 66. 



Building Operations. — The new dairy will soon be completed, also three 

 residences for the staff. Minor buildings, such as storeroom, bathroom, and 

 calf pens were erected by the farm. 



Farm. — Crops have improved considerably during the month. The greater 

 area of the land intended for summer cultivation has been ploughed. Consider- 

 able maintenance work is just now being performed on the irrigation furrows. 



Live Stock. — The stock all maintain their condition. Many animals are now 

 stabled, including those which are to be offered for sale on the 14th proximo. 

 Another heifer, " Glen Geertje," qualified for the Advanced Registry. 



Experimental. — Winter experiments have been limited this year to variety 

 tests only, and are looking very promising. The summer experiments will be 

 extended to embrace various phases of the work. 



Entomological. — This officer, together with the Lecturer in Horticulture, 

 visited the orchards and gardens at Warrenton and Ritchie Settlements. As 

 the plotholders at these places make their living almost exclusively by producing 

 fruit and vegetables a considerable amount of useful work can be performed 

 in the direction of proper pruning of trees and combating insect pests. It is 

 proposed to follow up this work, and, in addition, include other settlements. 

 The feeding habits of meerkats are also being investigated. 



Horticulture. — The last of the pruning was done shortly after the return of 

 the students. A considerable area has also been sown to vegetables. 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG, CAPE. 



Climatic- — Excessive drought conditions continue, high winds alternating 

 with cold, and the condition of stock in parts is not what it should be at this 

 season of the year. Heavy mortality in sheep is taking place on some farms, 

 due to intestinal worms. 



Horticultural Section. — Both orchards have been pruned during the month 

 by the senior and the returned soldier students. Irrigation has also been con- 

 ducted with a view to retarding the blossoming of the trees. 



The diversity of opinion that exists as to the advisability of irrigation before 

 blossoming of fruit trees has led to the following experiment this season to 

 provide data as to the stage when most damage is sustained from late frosts : 



Two plots containing trees of the same varieties of fruit have been treated 

 thus : Plot 1. — Irrigated (flood method) when the buds started to swell. Plot 2. — 

 Check plot not irrigated. 



Soil thermometers have been placed in each plot, one each 2 feet, and 

 one each at 4 feet below the surface of soil, to find the difference of temperature, 

 for the lower the temperature the less likelihood of the trees blossoming. A 

 blossoming record will bo kept of the two plots, also percentages of fruit that 

 set on selected branches of each of the varieties of fruit. These branches have 

 been selected and the fruit Ijuds counted. 



Farm Crops. — Notwith.standing the adverse conditions that prevailed during 

 the last two months in the form of high winds and severe frosts, fodder crops, 

 consisting of 85 acres sown with various kinds of oats, made satisfactory progress. 



Agricultural Experimental Section. — An area of 8 acres of the above is 

 devoted to an experiment conducted with the view to establishing the relative 

 values of (a) sowing in wet soil, with the proper dry surface mulch, and sowing 



