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TEE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



young amongst natives are asking for 

 some such definite policy, and to leave 

 things as they are is cruel and demorali- 

 sing. I am indebted to a well-known 

 Colonist here for the first suggestion of 

 the above, which wonld be a willing 

 cause to bring out 10,000 natives in a 

 week — after they really understood the, 

 to them, welcome news. At present, so 

 far as poor statistics tell us. at least two- 

 thirds of the available workers amongst 

 natives are beer-drinking at their kraals. 



The locust pest last season was very 

 bad, and this year it appears \\orse still. 

 The loss to the Colony is enormous, and 

 hard work does not receive its due re- 

 ward. Government were good enough to 

 grant a sum of money, which was spent 

 under the supervision of Mr. Archibald, 

 M.L.A., during last season's hopper stage. 

 The amount spent was ^^[H. The reports 

 kindly supplied me by the Ministei for 

 Agriculture are on the table for inspec- 

 tion. I earnestly suggest that this Asso- 

 ciation joins other Associations for one 

 common end, viz., the destruction of hop- 

 pers at the cost of all people concerned. 

 It is not fair that this burden should fall 

 on the shoulders of the few, nor, in my 

 opinion, is it quife needful to spend 

 Government money for the relief of 

 native tenants of absentee landowners. 

 I quote Mr. Archibald's .opinion from his 

 report : " I would suggest that some strin- 

 gent measures be taken to compel private 

 landowners to clear their lands. This is 

 done by planters and farmers, who culti- 

 vate, but absentees seem quite indiff'erent 

 to what happens." — Report to Minister of 

 Agriculture, 1901. 



I regret that it is not possible to report 

 to you any particular results from use of 

 mineral manures. No doubt the trouble is 

 the danger of their licing put into solution 

 by a heavy downpour of rain, before they 

 are incorporated with the soil on our hill- 

 sides. This may be avoided by placing 

 the manure deeper than most of us have 

 hitherto thought wise. It is to be hoped 

 that more interest will be taken in such 

 matters. The use of mill manure is fully 

 appreciated, and it is always successful. 



The mealie crop last gathered was, in this 

 county, with few exce])tions, notan average 

 crop. Examination of the rainfall registers, 

 and the crops concerned, seem to point out 

 hat the plant does not require — in fact 



does not thrive so well — with great heat 

 coupled with much rain. In most cases 

 the early planted crops were the best, 

 except when punished by locusts. We 

 earnestly hope that their planting late, to 

 avoid that pest, will not always be neces- 

 sary. A discussion on this and kindred 

 matters would be good ; for we can all 

 learn something from each other. If 

 there is a best time to plant, a best way 

 to cultivate, to harvest, and to store, then 

 surely it is worth trying to find. 



Cattle have done splendidJy during the 

 past year. The county, except in one 

 place, is free from disease, and young 

 cattle seem to have pulled through the 

 usual troubles without loss. I call mem- 

 bers' attention to Mr. Fuller's exhaustive 

 report on ticks. It seems certain that the 

 insect capnot reproduce its species until 

 after a feed on animal food ; and we may 

 take it that such is the reason why the 

 scarcity of cattle has been followed by a 

 great apparent reduction in the number 

 of ticks. We are looking forward to the 

 time when wealthy residents shall experi- 

 ment in the production of the very best 

 milking cow for the Coast, and we trust 

 that the enormous acreage of land lately 

 bought from Government shall soon be 

 covered with choice stock, and that we 

 shall be asked to attend the yearling sales. 

 Rinderpest is reported on the march to- 

 wards Natal. There is no need to be dis- 

 mayed. 



Prices have been good on the whole for 

 the period referred to. Mealies came 

 down in price when the military began to 

 use oats instead ; Init the markets appear 

 to be in a healthy state. Getting to the 

 market is not so easy. The N.G.R. does 

 its best ; but we should like it to do 

 better. However, gentlemen, it is bad 

 agricultiiral form to grumble. I venture 

 to suggest that farmers, and planters, and 

 stockkeepers might wisely combine to 

 have regular rated classes, both for stock 

 and produce. There would be little diffi- 

 culty in arranging to have bi-weekly slips 

 sent out from Durban and Maritzburg, 

 with the up-to-date prices attached to 

 every class ; and thus a good deal of busi- 

 ness might be done direct, saving extra 

 profits. The present price of cattle is very 

 high, ranging from ,£25 to £14 for oxen, 

 according to class ; and from £50 to £15 

 for cows — all guaranteed and acclimatised 

 cattle. 



