GENERAL SMUTS AS FARMER

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 6

GENERAL SMUTS AS FARMER

1-ourtoen years have elapsed since Genoral Smuts entered into possession of his estate at Doornkloof, in tho Transvaal, says the ‘ Capo Argus.’ Ton miles from Pretoria, it is situated amid a nest of hills on tho sources of the Aapics River, with tho garden hamlet of Irene iust opposite. When at Pretoria General Smuts is in residence at the farm, rejoicing in the rambles that bring him eloso to Nature. Tho bungalow residence, which is reached by an avonuo of fine plane trees, is comfortable, but has no pretensions to aroliitoctural beauty. The wooden stoep (verandah) opens on a hall giving access on ouo side to tho sitting room and on tho other to a larger dining room simply furnished. In tho sitting room are several pictures, chiefly of South African scenery, painted by Hugo Naude. Numerous signed portraits of famous men and women, including their Majesties the King and Queen, indicate tho wide range and eminouco of tho General’s career.

In the lands are tho signs of General Smuts’s enterprise as a funner. Though there are many wealthier and more prosperous landowners iu the Transvaal, with wider fields and larger herds, few farm more intelligently. Evidence of his “ up-to-dateness ” is found in the roaring of machinery, the song of the Ohio blower eating up green mealies stover at tho rate of five tons an hour. General Smuts sets a good example by dipping his cattle once a week. At first] after tho dipping tank was built, tho animals worn dipped onco a fortnight, but the treatment proving highly beneficial, both in respect of the health of tho cattle and in keeping away flies, tho order was given for weekly dipping. Tho trees, more than anything -else on his farm, aro emblematic of General Smuts’s character. “Almost,” ho remarked on one occasion, “ I would sacrifice one of my beautiful trees rather than this should happen.” Apropos of what loss tho remark was made docs not matter; that it was uttered reveals tho General's sentiment, and tho truth that to him “ no tree in all tho grove but has its charms.” That sentiment is expressed in a plantation of 500,000 gums and in many ornamental trees about the homestead, willows and planes and oaks. Drives and paths stretch for miles between tho stems of gums that have grown tall since tho first plantings began twelve years ago. The plantation is kept clear of laterals, and the trees tower straight and well proportioned. General Smuts is not very free with advice to farmers; perhaps he thinks they get a superabundance of advice; but always he helps them when it is humanly and departmentally possible. At Doornkloof ho shows how oven on a modest scale tho demands of five national needs may bo satisfied; water storage, afforestation, destruction of ticks by dipping, the growing of fodder crops, and the making of ensilage. The possession of Doornkloof is not General Smuts’a only claim to bo a farmer, for he owns a small ranch (Barberapan) in tho Western Transvaal. General Smuts himself can, of course, exercise only a general supervision over his farms, and then at long intervals. These agricultural affairs ore entrusted to a competent manager.