THE AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2921, 9 March 1910, Page 6

THE AGRICULTURAL POSSIBILITIES OF BRITISH SOUTH AFRICA.

Although but limited information reaches us from time to time as to the progress of agriculture in South Africa, some later reports show that under the guidance of the Government Department of Agriculture of that country very considerable development has taken place, and especially is this the case in the Transvaal since the close of the Boer war. Under present conditions the Transvaal is net the place for a man without capital to engage in farming, as there is a Jot of work still to be done in dealing with diseases and pests and improving matters generally before it can be called: a prosperous country. The Department of Agriculture of the Transvaal appears to have demonstrated through its experimental farms as no private enterprise could have done the possibilities of agriculture under good management combined with a sound teaming in scientific agriculture with the assistance of trained experts. According to the Government botanist of the Transvaal'a new era has undoubtedly dawned, and whatever happens to the Transvaal Department of Agriculture the Transvaal farmer can never return to the state of things which prevailed before the war"; and it is gratifying to learn, that the department has gained the confidence and sympathy of the most enterprising and progressive farmers, who support it heartily, though the backveldt Boer appears to be more difficult to reach and convince. The great mass of agricultural influence, however, has undoubtedly beer started in the direction of progress. We are "told that the Transvaal began its rural development as a stock country only, and, having no coastline and without rapid means of communication with the outside world, the Boers first established themselves along the streams, or . where, they could make dams from "which they could irrigate small patches of winter wheat for the supply of flour, and a little grain—oats or barley—for winter forage. The farms were large, 4000 to 8000 acres, and unfenced, and there was plenty of grass for the relatively small flocks and herds. Since the Boer War, however, enterprising Scotch, English, and colonial born farmers have leased farms from the mining companies, and -grow large quantities of forage, maize, and potatoes. Vegetable growing, it seems, has been taken up chiefly by a few Chinese from Cape Colony. It appears that the demand of the mining communities for farm and garden produce is very great, the annual import into the Transvaal being over £2,000,000 worth of produce The Division of Botany of the Department of Agriculture has recently given much time and attention to the search for grasses suitable for the formation of permanent pastures, and when it is stated that the winter is. .an almost rainless one of five months and with 15 to 25 degrees of frost, it will be understood that considerable difficulty has been experienced in obtaining plants which meet these requirements. Lucerne is grown on an extensive scale in the Transvaal, and although this crop does not remain green in winter, its deep-rooting habit enables it to start growth very early/ in spring, and with irrigation eight, nine, and even ten cuttings have been secured in a season. It has also been proved that it is possible to grow lucerne as a dry land crop, obtaining"* four or five cuttings by this means. The enormous yields and the high nutritive value of lucerne make it a crop of immense value to the stock-raisers of the country. The making of ensilage has also been successfully introduced by the Department of Agriculture, and the practice of siloing is being adopted by the more progressive farmers all over the country. The recent introduction, of the mangel by the department has provided an admirable source of food supply for the winter. Prices at present " are said to be good in the Transvaal, but whether they can be maintained is not certain. With increased acreage there will no doubt be greater competition—which is by no means undesirable—and a consequent tendency to reduction in prices. The cost of living is so unreasonably high that there is a strong desire to reduce the price of foodstuffs for the benefit of those compelled to live m towns. On the other hand, farmers are naturally anxious to get the best possible return for their produce, and are bringing pressure to bear on the Government to put a protective tariff on foodstuffs, not onlv from abroad, but also from the sister colonies. The Transvaal farmer will no doubt find it to his advantage to endeavour to reduce the cost of production of his goods rather than to demand a traiff reform, with its tendency to frequent change with change of Government, to improve the financial position. The distance from the coast and the long sea voyage to the markets of Europe materially reduces the number of available ■articles for export. I The most promising agricultural products ■ for export, though small, appear to be woo], 'hides, skins, meat, tobacco, and ; fruit. The practice of making hay from I the veldt grasses has been introduced with ! success, and is spreading among the farI mers. The natural grasses of the country

do not in themselves make a perfect hay, and.Teff grass from Abyssinia has been introduced to make up the deficiency. Agricultural development on a high scale requires intelligent labour, and that must come from the European population, because the Kaffir on the ordinary farm is said to be a child of Nature in the most literal sense and practically a barbarian. Strenuous efforts are at present being made in the Transvaal to overcome and exterminate the locust pests, and it seems that if the different Governments co-operate, measures may be advanced which will overcome this great insect trouble.