96 



THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



red dots, gradually increasing in size. U 

 the same time the juice acquires a dis- 

 agreeable taste and unpleasant odour, and, 

 finally disappears altogether, the pith, at 

 this stage, also breaking up into a black 

 powder. 



The whole cane is rarely destroyed in 

 this manner, the disease merely affecting 

 a few of the internodes. The propagation 

 of the disease seems to be favoured by 

 dryness of the soil, and poorness of tiie 

 crops. 



No method of preventing the spread of 

 the fungus has yet been found, and the 

 native cultivator, as a rule, simply begins 

 cultivating a fresh variety of cane when 

 his crops have been attacked by it. As a 

 rule, also, he does not destroy an affected 



crop, but leaves it to rot in the ground, 

 and this practice is doubtless the reason of 

 the long continuance of disease in the 

 district. Specimens of affected cane from 

 Pipra, a village ia Gorakhpur, have been 

 sent by Mr. Hadi, Assistant Director of 

 the Department of Land Records and 

 Agriculture in the North-Western Pro- 

 vinces, to the Director of the Botanical 

 Department of Northern India for identi- 

 fication of the fungus, and for suggestions 

 as to best method of stamping it out. The 

 fungus has been identified by the Botani- 

 cal Department as Tricosphceria sacchari, 

 but the only remedy suggested is that 

 every affected crop should be burnt, so 

 that the spores of the fungus may not be 

 disseminated among the healthy canes. 



Market Reports. 



(Rasponsihilily for the accuracy of the Statement, and Opinions v the .following Reports rests lodh 



the respective contributors ) 



MARITZBURG— Messrs. W. H. Walker and 

 Co. write :— It is a long time since the Colony 

 has experienced such a remarkable rainfall for 

 March and April ; and as a result produce of 

 every description is plentiful, and in rnany lines 

 cheap. Mealies still show an inclination to fall 

 in price ; and from nearly all parts of the Colony 

 there comes the pleasing information that there 

 will be a good crop. _ 



iJ/eaZies.— The highest price on the market 

 has been 10s. per muid, including sack ; but some 

 samples were down to 8s. and 8s. 6d. per muid. 



i'ora^e.— Small lots coming forward, and 

 prices have fluctuated between lis. and 12s. 6d. 

 perlOOlbs. , , , . 



//a?/.— Some first-class samples are being 

 offered daily, at prices varying between Is. 2d 

 and 3s. per lOOlbs ; and bedding has realised 

 from 5s. 6d. to 20s. per load. 



Potatoes. Larger quantities are now coming 

 forward. Early Rose, Ts. 3d. to I6s. per 100 bs. ■ 

 Up-to-Date, lOs. 9d. to 13s. 6d. per lOOlbs. 

 Rough Reds from 8s. to lOs. 9d. per lOOlbs , 

 Beauty of Hebron, from 8s. 9d. t'j 13s. 6d. per 

 lOOlbs ; and Sweet Potatoes from Is. ltd to 6s. 9d. 



Moheie.—Yrom Ss. 6d. to 12s. !)d. per lOOlbs. 

 Buckwheat-VTom 13s. 9d. to 14s. per lOOlbs. 

 0«io?»8.— This vegetable, although more plenti- 

 ful still commands high prices, and while some 



samples have been as low as 8s. 6d. and lis. per 

 lOOlbs, others have been up to2bs,. 2Js. 3d., 6\.i., 

 34s. per lOOlbs. , 

 Pumphiyis.— From 3s. to 13s. 3d. per dozen. 

 Tofeacco.— Several lots have been disposed ot 

 at prices from 7d. to Is. Id. per lb. 



B utter. -'^e^ersX samples have been down to 

 lOd and Is. per lb , others have been disposed ot 

 at 2s. Id., 2s. 3d., and 2s. 6d. per lb. 



/^,,^,5,_From Is. lOd. to 4s. 3J , 43. lOd., and 

 5s. 7d. per dozen. 



Poultru.—Yo^U. from 23. to Ts. 6d. each ; 

 ducks, from 5s, 3d. to 9s. 6d, per pair ; turkeys 

 (hens), 63. 3d. each. 



S^miries.— Bacon, from 2d. to 8id. per lb. ; 

 ham, from 5d. to 11 id. per lb. ; beef from 4d to 

 7d per lb. ; mutton, from 3d. to 9id. per lb. ; 

 pori, from 4d, to 9d. per lb. ; tea. Is. per lb. • 

 and several lots of fish have also been sold. 



—Apples, bananas, grenadillas, lemons, 

 mangoes, pears, oranges, and piaeapples con- 

 stitute the varieties sold. 



Fe7Cta6fes —Beans, beetroot, bringals, cauh- 

 flowers, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, green 

 mealies, onions, potatoes, rhubarb, tomatoes, 

 and turnips have been sold every day. 



If oocZ —Market has been well supplied during 

 the last fortnight, and prices have varied be-, 

 tween 4id. and lOd. per 100 lbs. 



