Outbreak of Animal Diseases in the Union. 



779 



TOBACCO AND COTTON. 



The Chief of the Division (W. H. ScherflBus) and Assistant Chief (J. du P. 

 Oosthuizen) completed their tour of lectures scheduled for September. The 

 entire trip was a complete success, lectures at sixteen different localities in the 

 Rustenburg District being given. The average attendance at each meeting was 

 twenty. Judging from the keen interest displayed at every meeting, there is 

 likely to be a big increase in the amount of land planted to tobacco and cotton 

 during the coming season. At the lectures farmers were given an opportunity 

 of asking questions, and they made good use of it. Most of their questions 

 pertained to methods of planting and culture, harvesting, insect troubles, and 

 kinds of fertilizers suited to these crops. 



At the Experiment Station the planting of cotton and the preparation of 

 tobacco lands aie now in progress. The newly appointed itinerant officer at 

 Barberton, Mr. Worrall, was fully occupied during September visiting farmers 

 and attending agricultural meetings. 



In the Turkish tobacco area, the itinerant officer, Mr. Stella, has been kept 

 bus.y visiting the various farmers and advising them in regard to methods of 

 handling their seed-beds and preparation of land for the crop. The Manager of 

 the Tobacco Station, Mr. Koch, is planting both his experimental plots and 

 general crop. The same work is in progress at the Mariendahl farm for 

 returned soldiers. 



A meeting of the tobacco farmers at Piet Retief for the 25th October has 

 been arranged, at which the Chief of the Tobacco and Cotton Division and on(> 

 of the Government entomologists will be in attendance, to arrange a series of 

 spraying experiments with the object of controlling the tobacco beetle, which is 

 doing so much mischief in that district. 



OUTBREAKS OF ANIMAL DISEASES IN THE 



UNION. 



September, 1920. 



