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THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Ixopo Agricuitural Society m 



The annual general meeting of the Ixopo 

 Agricultural Society was held at Stuartstown 

 on September 28th. Mr. Thos. Foster (presi- 

 dent) occupied the chair, and there were also 

 present Messrs. C. E. Hancock, Arden, Francis, 

 W. K. Anderson, W. H. Walton, Thompson, P. 

 McKenzie, Abrahams, Chadwick, J. Gold, Ben- 

 inglield, Sc'hofield, J. Anderson, J. Robinson, 

 Knight, Henderson, T. W. Greer, Elliott, and 

 C. Camp. 



The President said : — Gentlemen,— I have 

 much pleasure in submitting for your approval 

 the fourteenth annual report and balance sheet 

 of the Ixopo Agricultural Society. The annual 

 show was held on the 3rd July, and, in spite of 

 many difficulties, may be considered a success. 

 The entries were not so numerous as in former 

 years. Owing to the dry season, there was a 

 marked falling-off in produce entries. In this 

 section many of the exhibits, although small 

 in quantity, were of excellent quality. I re- 

 gret to say that 



FORAGE. 



Forage is most necessary — in fact, in my 

 opinion, it is absolutely indispensable — and, so 

 far, no satisfactory substitute has been found, 

 although many expeiiments have been made. 

 Should ehe "Mapstone rust-proof oaf tuni out 

 a success, Messrs. Mapstouo Bros, will deserve 

 the thanlis of the farming community for the 

 discovery. 



MEALIES. 



There appears to be a great diversity of 

 opinion with respt-ct to the last season's mealie 

 crop. I do not consider that it has reached the 

 average of the last three years, although the 

 usual acreage was planted. The light rainfall 

 must be held responsible for the deficiency in 

 the yield. 



STOCK. 



The show of hor.ses was good, both in num- 

 ber and quality. Many of the animals had the 

 appearance of being well cared for and attend- 

 ed to. No doubt the brisk demand lor horses 

 has caused breeders to pay more attention to 

 the condition of their breeding stock. The show 

 of cattle was confined to a few breeders, and, 

 although there were some very excellent ani- 

 mals, I do not think the number of exhibits 

 compares favourably with that of former years, 

 Shorthorns and Uevons being the principal 

 competing breeds. Each of these hud their 

 admirers. The challenge cup was taken by 

 Mr. W. K. Anderson, with specimens of the 

 former breed. In the sheep exhibit, the high 

 reputation of this' district was fully main- 

 tained, but I should have been glad to see a 

 larger number of competitors in addition to 

 the old-established breeders. It is gratifying 

 to inform you that the judges expressed their 

 satisfaction at the very creditable lot of sheep 

 wliich was placed before them. 



POULTRY. 



The new pens are a great acquisition, and 

 enabled everybody to see the birds to the best 

 advantage, in addition to proving a comfort 

 to the birds and a convenience to the exhibitors. 

 I should like to see this industry extended, as 

 I feel sure it is one that cannot fail to prove 

 highly remunerative. 



RINDERPEST. 

 The reappearance of this plague in East 

 Griqualand is a matter for serious considera- 

 tion, and it is gratifying to note that the Gov- 

 ernment has adopted the most stringent pre- 

 cautionary measures to prevent its being 

 brought into this colony. I am pleased to say 

 that our local Veterinary Surgeon reports that 

 the outbreak is not as serious as was feared. 

 I must repeat the remarks I made on a pre- 

 vious occasion as to the necessity of keeping 

 abreast with the times, and preparing to face 

 competition with other countries, by the adop- 

 tion of the most modern and improved system 

 of farming, and by taking advantage of the 

 numerous' labour-saving appliances and chemi- 

 cal manures which are now coming into general 

 use. 



4 Milking Device, 



THE cheap and simple aid to cleanly 

 milking shown in our sketch (from 

 the American Agriculturist) is made in 

 the following manner :— Get a wooden 

 hoop a little smaller than the top of the 



milk pail. Put a square cheese cloth 

 over the top of the pail, and hold it in 

 place by the hoop as shown. The 

 arrangement can be made in a few 

 minutes, and costs practically nothing. 

 The cloth should be washed after each 

 milking, when it will be ready for use 

 again. 



