The Young 'Farmers' Club

This cargo was for S. African ports, and was discharged at Durban, Lourcenzo Marques (mostly for Johannesburg), and Beira (mostly for Rhodesia). Working at these ports seems to be very rapid, and the "Clan Brodie" sailed from Beira on 22nd February, without cargo, for Port Pirie in S. Australia. She took a course to 60 miles S. of St. Mary's Point, Madagascar, and then by great circle route, arriving after a fine and uneventful passage on 16th March. After loading 3,000 tons of lead, she sailed for Sydney to load general cargo, and arrived there on 26th March. At the time of writing, the ship is due to go to Freemantle to complete loading for home ports. She may call at Cochin to change her Indian crew, and will arrive in U.K. in May. It seems probable that Hull will be one of the ports of discharge, in which case we may have the pleasure of our first meeting with Capt. Graham and his ship.

Leader: MR. K. G. COULTHARD.

Committee: J. B. HUZZARD (Chairman), A. H. SNEESBY (Vice-Chairman), P. R. B. MEGOINSON (Secretary), M. T. POWELL (Treasurer), R. D. BURDASS (Librarian), C. B. GREGORY.

The first meeting of the term was held on 27th January, when Mr. Smyth lectured on "The Life of a Livestock O•cer". He showed that he and his colleagues are responsible for the maintenance of good breeding stock and for spreading modern ideas and practices to farmers.

At the second meeting, held on 10th February, Mr. Waller, of the Ministry of Agriculture and (Fisheries, lectured on "Soil Fertility". He explained the differences in soils and enumerated the benefits which the farmer can obtain from a careful analysis of the soils of his farm, showing that only by such analysis could a farmer know how to treat his land. He outlined the values of the main fertilisers, both natural and chemical, and emphasised that over-application of fertilisers was as harmful to plant growth as neglect of the soil.

On 17th February two speakers visited the Club. Mr. R. B. Cockerill spoke about grain from the merchant's point of view, with special emphasis on barley and its uses other than for malting and brewing. Mr. G. Smith spoke about barley for malting and brewing and produced various types of barley, both English and foreign, at various stages in the malting process.