1920.] 



Agkiculture Abroad. 



391 



view to encouraging the more extended use of agricultural 

 machinery and fertilisers. 



Their efforts, however, have not been confined only to the 

 technical side of agriculture. Much has apparently also been 

 done, no doubt with a business eye, for promoting the commer- 

 cial side of the industry. Parties consisting of agents of the rail- 

 way companies and of specially qualified farmers were arranged 

 to visit certain areas, both in France and other countries, 

 for the purpose of studying the state of the markets with 

 reference to such produce as corn and root crops, live stock, 

 early vegetables and flowers. Reports were then drawn up, 

 for the information of the farmers of the home districts, 

 describing the conditions prevailing in the areas visited. 

 Tiiese reports, it wa.s hoped, w^ould be of assistance to farmers 

 in directing them in the cultivation of crops which would 

 be likely to be most profi. table. Further, the agents and 

 inspectors of the companies' commercial departments made 

 individual inquiries or were delegated to make investigations 

 as to the fluctuations of the markets over periods of several 

 months. Large numbers of pamphlets were circulated among 

 farmers, giving information which would help to direct them 

 in their operations. 



A further action on the part of the railway companies 

 to improve the facilities for the distribution of agricultural 

 produce was the formation of producing and selling co-operative 

 societies. By this means isolated farmers in the more remote 

 country districts were enabled to get into direct touch with 

 French and foreign consumers. 



According to a note published in the issue of the Boavd 

 of Trade Journal for the 20th May last, a South African 

 Cattle Breeders' Association is to be 



Cattle Breeders' organised as the result of a resolution 

 Soutli^^Mca^ passed recently at a representative meet- 

 ing of South African cattle breeders in 

 Johannesburg. Under the terms of the resolution, the Asso- 

 ciation is to frame and observe a uniform policy in the handling, 

 marketing, and exporting of cattle and their products, and 

 generally to do all that may be necessary for the prcUectiiMi 

 of cattle breeders, for the expansion (^f the cattle-raising 

 industry to their advantage and profit, and in the interests 

 of the consuming public. 



South African breeders feel that there is an opportunity 

 at the present time to raise the quality of South African beef 

 in the world markets. Organisation is considered to be 



