36 



THE AGBIGULTUBAL JOURNAL. 



registered on the 4th, and again on the 10th 

 inst while the minimum was 51degs. registered 

 on three different dates. Hay cutting has com- 

 menced in several parts of the District, but has 

 been greatly retarded owing to the incessant wet 

 weather. However the grass is in splendid con- 

 dition for hay-making, and it is Loped there will 

 be a ready sale for this produce. The mealie 

 CI op in most parts of the District is promising 

 exceedingly well, though the farmers are now 

 complainmg of the want of sunshine, which is 

 now required to bring this crop to maturity. 

 The potato crops also, in most parts, are looking 

 well, though some crops have sufEered from the 

 blioht probably on account of the late rains, 

 and the delay in obtaining fertilizers having 

 protracted the planting. With the exception 

 ot the scab in sheep, a few cases of horsesick- 

 ness, and quarter-evil in calves, the stock is in 

 perfect health, and most of the farmers can still 

 continue to sell a good quantity of milk or 



J. W. Cross, Magistrate. 



IMPENDHI.E. 25th March — During the past 

 two months good rains have fallen in this 

 District, March being the wettest, more or less 

 rain having fallen nearly every day up to this 

 date. The crops have made good progress, and 

 are looking well, generally, throughout the 

 Division. A cate of lungsickness was reported 

 towards the end of last mocth ; the beast was at 

 once killed, and no other case has occurred up 

 t ) the present. There have been a few cases oi 

 horsesickness, o herwise all stock aredomg well. 



CiiAS. Boast, Magistrate. 



INANDA, l(5th March.— The rainfall for 

 February was considerably below the average, 

 being only 2-53 inches ; but it was so distributed 

 over the month that crops did not suffer, but 

 rather thrived on it. Meahes are ripening oft 

 rapidly, and new ones are coming in, and prices 

 have already receded from IBs. to about ris. i 

 do not expect with the present demand in the 

 country they are likely to fall much below that 

 for any length of time. Cane is also making 

 marvellous growth, and planters have every 

 reason to feel happy. Grand rains this month ; 

 prices high ; and crops coming on splendidly ; 

 what more could the most exacting want > The 

 tobacco crop has almost all been gathered and i 

 notice enormous quantities being handled. The 

 crop is evidently a record one, and. I should say, 

 likely to become a drug in the market. It looks 

 very nice, but I am afraid when it comes to 

 smoking, the quality is not what it should be. 

 My old friends know that in my younger days, 

 I was in the tocacco growing business, and there- 

 fore know what I am saying when writing of 

 tobacco. Here it is almost entirely, if not quite, 

 in the hands of Indians, and their methods are 

 not such as ever to produce a good smoking 

 tobacco. Speaking of good smoking reminds 

 me that Mr. Starr, of near this township, who 

 has been studying cigar-making for several 

 years has succeeded in producing a very credit- 

 able article ; in fact, the best Natal-made cigar I 

 have yet tasted. Cigar smokers could do worse 

 than give them a trial. I may mention that 

 Mr. Starr grows and manipulates his own leaf. 



and does not trust to the aforementioned Coolie- 

 grown article. Here are a few meteorological 

 observations taken during February last— 2-53 

 inches of rain, which fell on nine days. iHeaviest 

 fall 110 inches on the 7th. Maximum tempera- 

 ture in the shade, 102 degrees on the 3rd, 

 minimum Gl degrees on the Uth. Mean tem- 

 perature for the month, 84'2 degrees, which 

 is a remarkably high mean, and mean 

 for its behaviour to us poor mortals 

 here below I am sorry to have to re- 

 port two outbreaks of lungsickness m this 

 Division. One amongst cattle belongmg to Mr. 

 liiUespie, running on Messrs. Harrison Bros, 

 land at Avoca. This has been proclaimed an 

 infected area, and the cattle licensed for six 

 weeks, according to law. The other outbreak is 

 reported amongst a Coolie's oxen near Umhloti 

 mouth. The Stock Inspector has gone to 

 investigate, and, if found to be true, the neces- 

 sary action required by Law will be taken. 

 Both these lo^s of cattle are said to have come 

 from up-country. Horsesickness is still pre- 

 valent, but it has never been bad here this 

 summer. The heaviest looser has been Mr. c. 

 S Garland ; but this is accountable by the fact 

 tliat be keeps horses and traps for hire and 

 they are out at all hours of the nigiht. 1 am 

 very glad to see that planters are taking timely 

 precautions against the babonic plague, and are 

 having their Coolie barracks thoroughly cleared 

 of all filth and rubbish -at least some of them 

 are and if there are any who are not, may 1 

 respectfully suggest to them to follow the 

 creditable example set by those referred to 

 above May I also in the same spirit, suggest 

 the same thing to the Verulam Local Board. 



John L. Knight, Magistrate. 



IXOPO 26th March. - During the past six 

 weeks splendid ra^.ns hi.ve fallen and the crops 

 have greatly improved, and m the highland 

 districts the mealie crop promises to be a gooa 

 one Forage is also free from rust. There are 

 several magnificent fields of sugar cane, which 

 shows the advisability of cultivating cane for 

 winter feeding. Some millet seed picked last 

 ^ear at rebel farms near the Buffalo River and 

 planted here, has given a heavy crop ^md is 

 quite free from rust, and I think farmers would 

 be wise to cultivate it, as it seems to stand the 

 drought better than forage. 



Frank E. Foxon, Magistrate. 



NEW HANOVER, 25th March.— For the 

 past fortnight heavy rains have been prevalent 

 which I have no doubt wi 1 prove to be ageneral 

 brcaking-up of the season, though many ot the 

 farmers are still complaining of the deficiency 

 (,f rain, and are hoping to have more before the 

 winter sets in in earnest. A decided change is 

 felt in the tempc-rature, the mornings and 

 evenings being cool and pleasant, and we can 

 now look forward to a few months of calm, cool 

 weather, which is certainly refreshing after the 

 excessive heat we have suffered the last tew 

 mont hs The mealie and corn crops are ripening 

 rapidly, and the Natives on the surrounding 

 farn-s are beginning to hold their weekly beer- 



