Schools of Agriculture and Experiment Stations. 885 



Live Stock. — The rains have come in time to provide much needed grazing. 

 All young stock, as well as the cows of the beet breeds, have been turned out 

 to paddocks, and all feeding has been stopped, except in the case of certain 

 imported breeds with calves at foot. These are still receiving a small amount 

 of mangels daily. Cows calvi)ig this month did not cleanse well. 



Three merino rams arrived here from Australia, one from each of the 

 following estates: " Haddon Rig," " Canowie," and " Bundemar." These 

 rams are intended for the various Schools of Agriculture, including this institu- 

 tion. The Wanganella stud sheep are in excellent condition. The percentage 

 of lambs in this flock, as well as the cross-bred Suffolk-Persian flock, amounts 

 to 72 per cent, and 116 per cent, respectively. The former figure is lower 

 than that of previous years on account of the somewhat late date at which 

 the merinos were mated. This year these sheep will be mated from the 

 beginning of November onwards, fully six weeks earlier than last year. Shear- 

 ing is well under way. 



Experimental Section. — The Experimentalist made several crosses of Black 

 Don wheat Rust in plants in the wheat variety plots has not been observed 

 this year. Some rust has been noticed on the wheat plants in the Cape, 

 however. Grains from GOO ears of maize were subjected to germination tests. 

 The ears are intended for variety trials and siRgle-ear test plots. Investigating 

 the relation betweon the weight of ears and 'the germinating power of the 

 grain has yielded no data in support of the general belief that heavy ears show 

 a great;^r percentage of germination in the grain than light ears. The matter 

 needs further investigation. 



Kngineei ing Section. — A paper on " Concrete " was written for the Irriga- 

 tion Association and is to be read at the next Congress. Three tests were 

 carried out with the gas engine using charcoal from different species of 

 eucalyptus. The test consisted of a six-hours run with engine and producer. 

 The horse-power and fuel consumption were measured, and in each case a 

 sample of the gas drawn off and analysed. 



Horticultvinl Section. — Spraying for codling moth has been continued. Up 

 to the (3th the prospect of a good fruit crop was very rosy ; strong winds set 

 in, however, after this date, followed by the two frosts referred to, and this 

 resulted in scores of stone fruits dropj^ing from the trees, as also certain 

 varieties of pears. The section to be planted next year has been pegged off and 

 dynamited. 



Poultri/ Section. — Stock birds are now run in a large camp and fed 

 reduced rations to force an early moult. A number of the early hatched 

 pullets have commenced to lay, so that there will be a good number of stock, 

 chiefly White Wyandottes and Leghorns, for early disposal. The Egg-Laying 

 Competition is still progressing favourably. During the seventh period of the 

 test, viz., 16th September to 13th October, the average daily yield was 183 eggs 

 for a total of 276 birds. This compares verj- favourably with previous periods, 

 although the production has dropped off due to an increase in broodiness 

 amongst heavy breeds. 



The Chemist^s time has been occupied in assembling the data of his work 

 of the last eighteen months on Nitiification of Soils. A paper will soon be 

 published on this work. Twenty-four soils were tested for their " lime require- 

 ments " ; in addition, nine foodstuffs and five peanut varieties were analysed. 



School. — The number of Diploma students enrolled to commence Part I of 

 the Diploma course in January now amounts to twenty. Of this number nine 

 are in lesidence already as practical students. Final examinations in the 

 following subjects for the year 1920 have been held: — 



Agricultural Law, Seniors; Zoology, Juniors; Book-keeping, Juniors. 



Two more students were admitted to the One-Year Returned Soldiers' 

 Course. Three one-year Returned Soldier students left to take up farming on 

 their own account. 



Staff. — The Lecturer in Poulti'y was absent in Capetown in connection with 

 egg export duties. He returned to the Institution on the 23rd. The 

 Superi?itendeiit of the R.S. Hostel, the Assistant Matron, and a lady clerical 

 assistant were on leav^e during the month. The Farm Manager, Mr. A. C. 

 Pigott, has been absent on leave in Ireland since the 16th June. He is expected 

 back by the 1st December. The Institution has several vacancies on the 

 technical as well as on the clerical staff. 



