420 



THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



must door C be opened at the same time 

 as doors A, B, or D, as such action would 

 enable the cold air to escape from 

 chamber 3, aud thereby cause a rise in 

 temperature, thus defeating the object in 

 view, viz., to keep the te-mperature as 

 low as possible. 



6. Chamber No. 3 in truck No. 301 is 

 fitted with an ice basket, into which 

 2U0 lbs. of ice 4 inches by 6 inches cube 

 can be placed by taking otf the trap hatch 

 on the roof, bat when such is being done 

 care must be taken to see th it door C is 

 closed, and thai, the ice basket is as full 

 at each end as in tlie centre. 



Van Nu. 64 contains receptacles into 

 which cans with ice may be placed. 



7. The ice will be supplied and placed 

 in the vehicles by the senders, but 



stationmasters must render every assist- 

 ance, and be careful that such is done in 

 the aforementioned manner. 



8. Stationmasters will make the public 

 acquainted with the facilities afforded 

 for conveyance of dairy produce, and 

 they must see that the consignments are 

 in readiness, and loaded, immediately on 

 arrival of the train. 



9. It id desirable that everything pos- 

 sible should be done to ensure the satis- 

 factory transit of dairy produce over 

 these lines ; and all concerned are en- 

 joined to accomplish this by giving the 

 matter special attention. 



Acknowledge receipt. 



David Hunter, 



General Manager. 



DisiHct Reports. 



BULWER, 5th September.— On tlie 24th and 

 25th of last' month w e luid two soaking wet 

 days. The grass on the high lands is growing 

 fast^ every day almost there is a distinct im- 

 provement perceptible. It is some years now 

 since rain dias fallen here in such quantities 

 so early in the spring, and it looks very much 

 as though there is to be a repetition of wet 

 soasonSj a.s the scientists predict. There is a 

 very important feature In the rainfall itself, 

 and that is that it should not fall heavily for 

 short periods, but slowly for long or extended 

 jjei-iods. This feature has been very notice- 

 oible in recent years. Stonn rains «re usually 

 heavy, and are decidedly beneficial in the 

 spring and at intervals during the wet season 

 for various reasons, but when they fall regu- 

 larly they are most disastrous to crops 

 and cultivated lands. The Stock Inspector 

 rcjiorts there are five flocks of sheep infected 

 with Sc-ab in the Division, and that Miller 

 I3ros. are not yot free of the lungsickncss, 

 otlierwisc as far as I know stock of all kinds 

 is free of disease. Mealies have come down 

 in ]jrice, as the natix'es are now offering them 

 ait 12s. per bag, exclusive of sack. Mabele or 

 kafir corn cannot be got for less than 20s. to 

 25s. per bag. The price of poultry varies very 

 much. Common fowls are selling at from Is. 

 3d. to 2s. apiece. Poultry rearing in the dis- 

 trict is receiving a good deal of attention. 



H. W. Boast, Magistrate. 



DUNDEE, 2nd September.— During the last 

 fortnight there have been splendid rains, and 

 tlie fruit trees are looking beautiful in full 

 blooim, the grass, too, is sjyringing up all round 

 the district, It is to be hofjed there will be 



no more frost thiis season. The Dundee 

 District Agricultural Society has been re- 

 organised, a strong Committee has been for- 

 med and ':Mr. Craighead Smith appointed Presi- 

 dent. Lungsickncss is atill prevalent, and a 

 number of 'cattle used by the militaiy died 

 during the last rain from exposure. Cattle- 

 steaJing is' rife in the neighbourhood, and 

 several "cases of sheep-stealing by umfaans have 

 been before me. Contraventions undei- the 

 Scab Act have been reported, and action will 

 be taken to enforce the Regulations. A grass- 

 fire was started by some natives near Dundee, 

 re.-,ult.ing amonyst other losses, in the death 

 of 73 ilead of ' cattle. Vegetables are very 

 scarce and expensive, which cannot be won- 

 dered at seeing that they have to be brought 

 from Durban. A number of looted horses 

 were sold the other day, and realised 20s. each 

 and upwards. In a great many instances it 

 would have been more charitable to have shot 

 them. Of course the thrifty Indians puroliased 

 a great number. 



W. G. Wheelwright, Magistrate. 



JiNDWEDWE, 2nd September.— We have had 

 nice weather lately, and there is every promise 

 of a good spring. The thermometer readings 

 for last month are : — Means minimum 54, 

 maximum 07, minimum 48, maximum 85, and 

 for the corresponding month last year : — 

 Means minimum 52, maximum 68, minimum 

 43, m.i^^imum 82. Rain fell during last month 

 on' four days, giving a total fall of 2.34 inches, 

 and fo.- August last year we had heavy rain on 

 two days (24ith and "30th). Locusts have paid 

 us another visit. One of the largest swarms 

 1 liave seen passed here about tiliree weeks 



