490 J. w. v.Ews. 



mountain rises to the level of the third, and, on the other hand, 

 the Umgeni and Umsindusi rivers have cut down through the 

 terrace. They and their numerous tributaries have produced 

 a system of hills and ridges with valleys between, giving as a 

 result the very broken type of topography that is charac- 

 teristic of Natal as a whole. Parts that are at a higher level 

 are under conditions that differ widely from those which 

 obtain at a lower level. 



(1) High A^eld Region. 



If we select any of the broader ridges or more rounded 

 hills where the ground is flat as compared with the rest of the 

 region, we And that a considerable depth of soil has accumu- 

 lated, and it is not being very rapidly transported to lower 

 levels. It is the natural product of the disintegration of the 

 rocks undeinieath. It is loose and well aerated, and the iron 

 (which is so abundant in all Natal soils) exists in the form of 

 the hio-her oxides, giving a red colour to the soil. Its 

 mechanical properties are distinctly good. It is either loose 

 or medium in texture, and not too dry, except for a short 

 time during the dry season, when it often forms a fine dust, 

 which is blown down into the valleys. This high veld region 

 receives a much higher rainfall than the low veld ; the soil is 

 consequently leached and the soluble salts are dissolved out 

 of it. It is a poor soil chemically, since analyses show a 

 scarcity of lime and phosphates. The grass here grows tall 

 with A n t h i s t i r i a i m b e r b i s dominant. Much of this type of 

 soil in the area under consideration has now been planted 

 with wattle. This first type is the most stable of the high 

 veld region. 



On steeper slopes there is, as is to be expected, much less 

 uniformity in the soil conditions. In some places the bare 

 rock may be exposed, while in others a great depth of soil 

 may have accumulated more or less temporarily. Some of 

 the slopes are much more rocky than others. If a dolerite 

 sill is exposed the slope may be covered by large blocks of 

 dolerite, and the soil accumulates behind them. There are all 



