TBB AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



773 



LOWER MFOLOZI, (ith February— Kather 

 ■warm weather was experienced (luring the 

 past month ; still nothing to compare with 

 the heat of last year. Rain fell on nine days: 

 perfect deluges taking place on the 2r)th and 

 26th, and 29tn to Slith. Not only were the 

 Mhlatuzi and Mfolozi rivers flooded, but the 

 insignificant Nseleni stream became a roaring, 

 impassable torrent. Much inconvenience was 

 caused by boat on upper drift of Lower Mfo- 

 lozi being found unserviceable through leak- 

 age, necessitating a trip of 15 miles to the 

 lower (Nkwelena) drift. On the 13th lung- 

 sickness was reported by native Joshua — in- 

 duna of the Mpangeni Mission Station— 

 among his cattle, and the death of an inocu- 

 lated beast in the Rev. Twedt's quarantined 

 herd. Steps were immediately taken by 

 Joshua and other neighbouring Amakolwa to 

 inoculate from an affected beast (killed), and 

 quarantine took place ; with the result that, 

 so far, no cattle have been lost. Natives are 

 very much concerned lest rinderpest should 

 again manifest itself in this district, and some 

 have even asked why Government does not 

 inoculate all stock throughout the district 

 against it — in advance or anticipation of its 

 advent. Wild dogs were reported to have 

 killed 9 sheep and 14 goats and injured 3 head 

 of cattle— one dangerously — but not a single 

 claimant for the £1 reward per head of the 

 pest has put in an appearance. The dogs, it 

 is said, actually drive buck into railway cut- 

 tings during the very early morning with a 

 view to trapping them ! Crops and stock 

 look well throughout the district, ])articularly 

 the latter near the Ukwelana. Early green 

 mealies were and are to be procured almost 

 everywhere. Swarms of "hoppers " were 

 numerous, though it is understood great num- 

 bers were destroyed by grass fires in many 

 places. 



A. R. R. TuENBULL, Magistrate. 



NEWCASTLE, 31st January.— The summer 

 season, which had shaped so favourably up to 

 the close of the old year, was, in this district, 

 marred by protracted heat and drought up to 

 the middle of the month, causing the bulk of 

 the early planted mealies to dry off without 

 bearing. The temperature was at times up 

 to 98 in the shade. During the latter portion 

 of the month rain has fallen which will save 

 the later planted grain. Rinderpest has made 

 some advance in parts of the district, and bile 

 is in demand, the Charlestown Station having, 

 I am told, experienced a great run. The mor- 

 tality amongst cattle at Yolksrust has, I be- 

 lieve, been heavy. 



J. O. Jackson, Magistrate. 



NQUTU, 4th February.— The past month 

 opened with a dry spell of nearly two weeks, 

 and the country was beginning to look 

 parched ; but, fortunately, the remainder of 

 the month saw some capital rains, in all 5.53 

 inches, and the crops are now looking well. 



One rchull of the short drought was that most 

 of the young pumpkins were killed off. 

 Amongst the mealie crops about the district 

 the mealie grub (isihlava) is very noticeable, 

 and I have remarked that it is more m evidence 

 this season than in past seasons. No cases 

 of deaths from horsesickness have yet come 

 to my notice, although we are well into the 

 period of its prevalency. Stock of all kinds 

 me in first-rate condition. Luiigsukness is 

 still fairlv prevalent, but owing to the dis- 

 turbed state of the district, and the manner in 

 which stock have to be herded as far inland 

 as possible, it seems hopeless to be able to 

 effectually deal with the outbreaks. Rinder- 

 pest, though prevalent on the border of this 

 district is still confined to the infected area 

 within Nkandhla district. Large numbers 

 of cattle and horses have been looted from 

 natives of this district by Boers during the 



month. . , 



C. HiGNETT, Magistrate. 



Locust Report Lower 

 Tugelam 



MK. Stock Inspector Brown reported 

 on the 30tli ultimo:— No flying 

 locnsti have passed Lower Tugela during 

 tlie month. There are a few young hop- 

 ])ers ahout the district, but are not suffi- 

 ciently numerous to do any damage to 

 the coming crops. 



I have not heard anybody in the dis- 

 trict complaining of them doing any 

 harm. 



Agricultural Bills. 



DUEIXG the ensuing session of Par- 

 liament it is intended to introduce 

 Bills "To extend the operation of the 

 Grass Burning Act, 18'95, and to provide 

 for enquiries into fires occurring along 

 lines of railway in the Colony." "To 

 empower the Natal Native Trust to take 

 or to grant the use of water from rivers 

 flowing through Trust Lands."' The Bills 

 are published in the Governnicnt Gazette 

 of the 4th instant. 



Director of Agriculture, 



MR. A. N. PEAESON, who has been ap- 

 pointed Director of Agriciilture, has 

 arrived in the Colony, and has assumed 

 duty. Mr. Pearson was the Agricultural 

 Chemist to the Government of the Col- 

 ony of Victoria. 



