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THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Geology. 



THE first report of the Geological 

 Survey of IS^atal and Zululand, by 

 Mr. Wm. Anderson, the Government 

 Geologist, has been issued, and may be 

 procured from Messrs. V. Davis & Sons. 

 This laborious work now commenced 

 will prove of immense value. The con- 

 tents comprise maps, sections, and 20 

 plates of rock scenery, an his- 

 torical sketch and bibliography (over 

 100 works), and deals with the recon- 

 naissance survey of Zululand, fossil plants 



from St. Lucia Coalfield, geology of the 

 Lower Tugela district, necessity for a 

 Natal Museum, scheme for the geologi- 

 cal survey, and list of publications re- 

 ceived. The information which Mr. 

 Anderson is now engaged in collecting 

 and presenting in systematic form to 

 the Colony is not only necessary from 

 an administrative point of view, but 

 will 'aiyd, and probably from the outset, 

 prove of substantial value. 



District Reports^ 



BULWER, 7th February.— There is little to 

 report from this district for the last fortnight. 

 The rainfall has been considerable, but at short 

 intervals. Three fine days were experienced at 

 the beginning of the last fortnight. This has 

 helped the crops a good deal, as hot, sunny 

 davs were badly wanted. This does not ap- 

 ply to tlic whole of the Division, the heavy 

 rains only being confined to limited belts of 

 country in different parts of the Division. In 

 some parts there has been almost a drought. 

 For instance, in the Umkomanzi Valley the 

 grass is dried up and parched for want of 

 moisture. I hear that the crops generally 

 throughout the Division look well. All kinds 

 of stock is well and free from disease as far 

 as I know, except one case of supposed glan- 

 ders in a horse in the Underberg district. 1 

 have not heard the result of the inspection 

 by the Stock Inspector of the Division. I am 

 sorry to ^ay Mr. -Verney, the energetic Vete- 

 rinary Surgon of the District, has been sent 

 elsev, here, and we are now without a vet. The 

 roads about the locality of Bulwer are in an 

 almost impassable state, and the Superinten- 

 dent of the Public Works Department has 

 considerable difficulty with the limited labour 

 su()ply provided him to keep tralTic going. 

 There was a large number of cattle offered for 

 sale at Bulwer on the 29th January, 1902, and, 

 with the excejition of a small lot of cattle 

 belonging to Dr. Hardwicke, who has been 

 triinsferred to the Howick District Surgeoncy, 

 the prices offered were low, and few sales took 

 place. 



H. W. Boast, Magistrate. 



EMPANDHLENI, Nkandhla District, 31st 

 .Januarv. — Mist and rain prevailed almost 



daily throughout the month, the total rainfall 

 being 4.25 inches. The maximum temperature 

 was 94deg., and the min. 51deg. The rinderpest 

 in the district is being kept well in hand, only 

 one fresh outbreak took place outside the in- 

 fected area, and these cattle have been moved 

 into the area. The Stock Inspector informs 

 me that 59 head of cattle have died frpm 

 rinderpest and inoculation at the three out- 

 breaks of 100 head of cattle. In the infected 

 area 578 head of cattle have already been 

 inoculated with bile, and 26 head with serum. 

 These latter were brought into the area from 

 the Transvaal bad with the disease. The 

 Stock Inspector is still busy inoculating as 

 well as attending to outbreaks of lungsickness, 

 of which I regret to say there are three fresh 

 cases reported during the month, making 

 seven herds in all under license. All that is 

 possible to keep the disease in check is being 

 done, but, at the same time. I fear diseases 

 will spread all over the district in consequence 

 of the removal of all stock from the border. 

 Since the reward for killing wild dogs was 

 made known the pack that came into the dis- 

 trict has been hunted and left the district 

 again. A very severe form of dysentery is 

 ])revalent in different parts of the district,' 

 otherwise the health on the whole has been 

 good The crops on the high veld and along 

 the border of the Transvaal are very haC.:- 

 ward, and cannot be said to be looking well. 

 I am pleased to say, however, that all crops 

 in the low coimtry' are looking exceedingly 

 well. No locusts" have been reported. The 

 Boers are still very lively along the border, 

 and some fiO horses and 110 sheep were re- 

 ported to have been raided from the natives 

 (luring the month. 



C. C. FoxON, Magistrate. 



