sofrii Ai'kicAX ACKicn/rrKi-: : an ANAL^•sIS. 149 



Another pastoral industry, the breeding of cattle, and its 

 concomitant, the output of dairy produce, bids fair to become 

 important. One hundred and forty years after the occupation 

 of the Cape of Good Hope by the Dutch East India Company tlie 

 first introduction from oversea seems to have taken place, for 

 crossing with native cattle. Tt was a century later before the 

 importance of dairying began to be advocated. In the absence 

 of the railroad, the Africander ox was depended upon for the 

 tra-n sport of all supplies and all products. There being at the 

 time practically no market for butter, there was little induce- 

 ment for the improvement of the herds. Serious attention to 

 the manufacture of liigh-class butter, and therefore to the im- 

 provement of the milk-j)roducing capacity of our cows, com- 

 menced twenty years ago only. Now we seem to be on the eve 

 of adding meat and butter to (^ur list of exports. 



The ostricli feather industi") , at present going through a 

 period of severe depression, but, I believe, destined to become 

 again one of our chief sources of income, has had :. chequered, 

 though interesting, history. Started in 1865, it was booming 

 in the late seventies and early eighties, nearly extinguished in 

 the later eighties, and revived in the later nineties; again, since 

 eighteen months ago, it is in the depths of depression. The 

 export figures form interesting reading : — 



Note here also the i^apid progress since 1905. Although 

 the average value ])er lb. was in i';i3. the last year of prosperity, 

 onlv half as much as in 1880, when the previous boom occurred, 

 such great improvement in breeding and feeding had taken place 

 in the last twenty years or so that the industry prospered at the 

 lower realisatidti, and the ostrich farmer was the envy of other 

 agriculturists. 



The first attempt to introduce the .\ngora goat into South 

 Africa is said to have been made in 1825. Thirty rams and 

 ewes were imported in 1856. and subsequent shipments arrived 

 in 1857. 1867, 1879, and 1880. So much intelligent care was 

 bestowed on, and so much industry api:)lied to the breeding of 

 Angoras that in 189T there were 3,184,018 in this country, and 

 some individual goats were superior to any which Turke\- pro- 

 duced The shi])ments of mohair were: — 



