1=,4 SOUTH AFRICAN A(;RRULTUK1-: : AN ANALYSIS. 



create wealth, to make the return from the soil the greater, both 

 to the individual farmer and to the people as a whole. 



It is the politician's sphere to say how that population is to 

 be obtained. 1 may be permitted to say, however, that rural 

 population follows on urban ; that greater market must precede 

 increased production. The farmer will produce according to 

 the market he has. He will not produce more, because, ob- 

 viously, he cannot be expected to produce at a loss, or even at 

 a less profit than that which he may consider a fair return for 

 his labour and his expenditure. Where, then, is this market 

 to be? Our oversea market, valuable as it is, is necessarih 

 one in which the products of several countries compete ; it is one 

 in which distance, freight, railway rates, etc., are weighty factors ; 

 it is also one outside the control of ourselves ; it is one influenced 

 by the vicissitudes of climate and also of ])olitics. It is, there- 

 fore, to some extent an uncertain market. Is it not better to 

 have a market in which distance and freight are eliminated, which 

 is within our own control, which, when influenced by climatic 

 conditions, yet gives us the benefits as well as the disadvantages 

 of such conditions ; which, lastly, when influenced by politics, 

 yet gives us a voice therein ? The closer an export market, 

 capable of absorbing our ])roducts. is to our gates, the more 

 would be the benefit we might expect to derive from it. .South 

 Africa, however, is thousands of miles from any large market. 

 Our geogra})hical situation demands a large internal market. 



The greatest advancement in agriculture tool< place after 

 the Anglo-Boer War. Firstly, we entered upcjn more settled 

 political conditions. For many years previously political con- 

 siderations overshadowed the agricultural. Secondly, there was 

 considerable expansion of the gold industry, and consequent 

 increase in the consuming population. Thirdly, the producer 

 was brought nearer the market by extensive railway construction, 

 the mileage open being 4,534 in 1903 and 8,281 in T913, an 

 increase of nearly 55 per cent in ten years. 



Agricultural industries (le[)end upon others, and other in- 

 dustries upon agricultural. The two form a circular movement. 

 I have endeavoured to indicate what is required to enlarge the 

 circle. Let me express it in this formula : indu.stries, popula- 

 tion, internal markets. I have attempted to show that our 

 population, urban and rural, have inherited qualities that should 

 hearten us for the future, 1)ut that certain easily recognisable 

 causes have held back agricultural development in the past. 

 What boots it that we have the material if Ave do not supply 

 the means for employing that material to advantage? What 

 value have rich soil and favourable climate if they are not 

 turned to full use? We may devise ways of preventing erosion 

 of the soil, preach conservation of water, encourage irrigation, 

 demonstrate thorough tillage, facilitate importation of pedigree 

 farm stock, protect our animal industries, aft'ord all the educa- 



