356 



TEE AOBIGVLTUEAL JOURNAL: 



tinent, in connection with the money 

 values attached to the analyses in the 

 report to suggest that the Government 

 Chemist should publish the scale of values 

 which he uses to calculate the valuation 

 of fertilisers that pass through his hands, 

 and explain upon what principle they are 

 arrived at. It is admittedly not an easy 

 matter to fix on a valuation which shall 

 fairly represent the cost of the various 

 constituents, but I take it that the principle 

 should be to use as a standard the market 

 price in the Colony of each separate con- 

 stituent in its simplest commercial form, 

 and so realise as nearly as possible the 

 ideal proposed in the report, namely, to 

 represent the approximate value of the 

 constituents of the manure under con- 

 sideration. But if such has been the 

 method pursued there are apparently some 

 discrepancies which would be all the better 

 for a little explanation. Why, for instance, 

 should the nitrogen in manures be valued 

 at about 12s. per unit, when nitrate of 

 soda costs £14 10s., and sulphate of am- 

 monia £19 10s., which works out at about 

 18s. Gd. per unit ? And why, on the orher 

 hand, when muriate of potash can be 

 bought for £15 a ton, equal to about 5s. 

 per unit, is it calculated in the report at 

 about 6s. 8d. ? I suppose it is reasonable 

 in this country, where the cost of lime is 

 abnoi rnally high, that its value should be 

 iiicluded in the valuation of manures. It 

 is so included at the Cape, but not in Aus- 

 tralia, America, or England. But its in- 



clusion appaars to give iusome cases what 

 seems a samewhat fictitious value to cer- 

 tain fertilis':rs. 



In conclusion, may I be permitted to 

 say that it is in no critical spirit thatthese 

 few Hues have been written, but rather 

 with the hope that some s'gus of interest 

 in the publication of the report alluded 

 to may encourage the continuance of a 

 very useful work. 



Locusts m 



MR. STOCK INSPECTOR BROWN, 

 Lower Tugela, on the first of the 

 month reported :— No locusts have been 

 seen during the month in this District. 

 I have made enquiries about them towards 

 Zulu land way, and, as far as I can make 

 out there are none anywhere about Lower 

 Tugela. 



irrigation, 



nOLONEL CORBETT, the Irrigation 

 \J Expert, will complete his term of two 

 years' service with the Natal Government 

 about tlic middle of November. Any- 

 one wishing to consult him should there- 

 fore apply without delay. No fee is 

 charged for this officer's services. Appli- 

 cation should be made direct to Colonel 

 Corbett, Department of Agriculuti'O, 

 Pietermaritzhurg. 



District Reptorts. 



BlILWER, August 8th. — Daring the last 

 month there has been little to report. Calm, 

 clear days,' almost throughout the month, nights 

 cold and plenty of frost. On the 28th there was 

 a very slight drizzle and mist. Along the 

 Drakensbcrg a good deal of snow fell, and it was 

 exceedingly cold during the morning, but in the 

 afternoon it cleared and became much warmer. 

 Rain is badly wanted, everything is dry and 

 parched. I never saw the veld looking worse. 

 Notwiiiistanding this all kinds of stock look 

 well, the sheep particularly so. Every flock I 

 saw, while ridnig through the District, looked in 

 good condition. Another case of lungsickness 

 broke out in the farm Fairacres, I am sorry to 

 say, the other day in a troop of cattle belonging 

 to Miller Bros. Active measures were at once 

 taken to stop the spread of the disease, and so 

 far with success. 1 am glad to say the outbreak 

 at Coleford has been stoj ped, md the cattle are 

 all free from the disease. All other kinds of 

 stock are free from disease as far as I know. A 

 ytock sale was held at Bulwer on the 24th of 



July, of cattle belonging to Mr. Firmstone, of 

 Ingogo. The prices realised were a long way be- 

 lo\v previous sales. Da-ing the last week the 

 heat for this time of the year has been quite ex- 

 ceptional, the thermomeer registering 85 

 degrees, at noon, in the shade, and the nights 

 have lately bean exceedingly close and sultry 

 with dense fngs or misis. If this kind of 

 wecther con*'ituies there will soon be grass 

 sp'-inoin''- up in the sheltered and low lying 

 land " The ruling price of m alies is 13s. per 

 baw for old mealies, and Us. for the new mealies, 

 orlastsea'on s crop. It is most difficult to get 

 hay or any kind of fodder for cattle and other 

 stock in the district justi now. 



H. W. Boast, Magistrate. 



INANDA, 9th August.— July has passed 

 away without any rain here, which, I think, is a 

 record, even for thece latter day dry 

 seasons The consequence is that crops are 

 sufEerin'J- badly. The canefields are showing ua- 



