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THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



INANDA, 30th September. — Though only 

 2 03 inches of rain fell here during August, it 

 was a good month, as the rain fell only on four 

 days, and, therefore, in sufficient quantity each 

 time to benefit growing crops, and not be dried 

 up in a few hours after each rain, as happens 

 when the same quantity of rain is spread over a 

 large number of days. The heaviest fall was 

 83 of an inch on August 24th. The maximum 

 temperature during the same month was99degs. 

 in the shade on the 6th, and the minimum 46 

 degs. on the 20th. The mean temperature for 

 the month being 66'1 degs. The past month has 

 been a very favourable one, over six inches of 

 rain havinc; fallen, and everything is looking 

 splendid. It has been the finest spring experi- 

 enced for many years. Cultivation and cane- 

 planting is going on all over the Division, and 

 all the sugar mills are up to their eyes crushing 

 a bumper crop, and, as the prices of sugar are 

 good, no doubt planters are in high spirits. 

 They deserve a good spell, for, goodness knows, 

 they have had some bad enough years lately to 

 contend with. The mango crop this season 

 promises to be a very fine one. The trees are 

 covered with young fruit, which is looking very 

 healthy. I am unable to say j et what the pro- 

 spects are for next orange and naartje crop, but 

 what trees I have seen do not seem to have 

 blossomed well. This may be accounted for 

 by the unusually heavy crop the trees bore 

 during the season just coming to an etd. Mr. 

 Harry Reynolds, of Oaklands, Umhlali, has 

 succeeded in growing very fine asparagus at his 

 place. I saw about 8 or 91bs, of splendid shoots 

 from there a week or two since, which I was 

 informed had been raised from English seed. I 

 did not hear after how many seasons, but, judg- 

 ing from the size of the snoots, some of which 

 were nearly an inch in diameter, I conclude that 

 the plants must be several years old to have 

 roots of sufficient size to produce such large 

 shoots. Several swarms of locusts have been 

 about again, but I have not heard of any damage 

 being done by them. Each year, since their 

 first advent in the Colony, they appear to have 

 become less and less destructive, I hope this is 

 a sign of natural decay, which will end in their 

 total disappearance. I am glad to be able to 

 report the Division entirely clear of lungsick- 

 ness, and stock generally in good health and 

 condition. 



John L. Knight, Msgistrate. 



N'KANDHLA, 30th September.— A week's 

 heavy rain fell during the middle of the 

 montli, doing a lot of good. Since the rains 

 the weather has been quite warm. I am 

 pleased to report that the lungsiekness has 

 made no headway^ and appears to be dying 

 out. The stock insjiector visited the district 

 on the 17th instant. All stock is picking up 

 in condition, and tlie grass is coming on well. 

 It was with regret I had to record the death 

 of the Chief Mbambai of the Ranyale tribe 

 on tlie 2nd istant. In the inland parts of the 

 district cultivation is going on, but all along 

 the border of the Transvaal it has ceased, in 

 conse(]uence of the Boer attack on the 26th 

 instant. I have had iio reports regarding 



locusts during the month. The health of the 

 district on the whole has been good. 



C. C. FoxON, Magistrate. 



NQUTU, ZULULAND, 1st October.-During 

 the past month the rainfall registered about 

 three inches. This is unusual, and shows that 

 we are to have an early spring. Were it not 

 for the very troubled coadition of affairs here- 

 abouts, ploughing would now be the order of 

 the day, but until affairs military are more 

 settled, I fear that the natives will not do much 

 towards ploughing and planting. On the 22nd 

 ultimo the Boers made a raid into the District, 

 and the result was that some 300 head of cattle 

 and 600 sheep were looted. These raids, from 

 which the District has suffered for the past 

 year, have the effect of upsetting all the good 

 work of the Stock Inspector as in the rush to 

 bring stock into a place of safety, the infected 

 stock travel about and become mixed with the 

 clean stock. All kinds of stock are just begin- 

 ning to pick up, as the grazing is coming on 

 splendidly, and the animals able to obtain their 

 fill. 



C. HiGNBTT, Magistrate. 



WEENEN, 4th October.— The works in con- 

 nection with the new water furrow on the 

 Weenen Town Lands were commenced some 

 weeks ago, and satisfactory progress is being 

 made. The contractors, Messrs. Worthington 

 and Walters, are experiencing some difficulty in 

 obtaining sufficient native labour, but this de- 

 ficiency will, no doubt, be remedied when the 

 works become better known, ''he pea crop - 

 one of the staple products of this District— pro- 

 mises to be a remarkably fine one this year, and 

 will soon be ready for harvesting. One or two 

 extremely hot days, with a strong north wind, 

 have been experienced this week, and another 

 shower of ram would be welcome. 



C. Gr. Jackson, Acting Magistrate. 



The custom of docking was given up in 

 Army stables so long ago as 1764. 



He was a Sydney Technical College man, and 

 was supposed, never having had any practical 

 experience of the business, to have a deep and 

 valuable knowledge of fowl rearing and breed- 

 ing. Therefore, the authorities sent him up- 

 country to lecture to the folk who were trying 

 to make a living at the industry. His first 

 audience numbered many young people, to 

 whom he proceeded to give what he ealled 

 " wrinkles " in their work, but which most of 

 them had been familiar with from their cradle. 

 " Now," he went on, impressively, " a hen has 

 laying capacity to the amount of 600 eggs, and 

 no more. But in five years she finishes her task, 

 and the important question arises as to what we 

 shall do with her ? " " Why, mister," e::c'aimed 

 a boy, -'any fool knows that. Cut off her 'ead, 

 an' sell 'er for a spring chicken. What else 

 could be done ? Tell us somethin' we don't 

 know please, mister." — Pastoralists Review, 



