THE VELD: ITS EESOURCES AND DANGERS.* 



BY 



I. B. Pole Evans, M.A., D.Sc, F.L.S., 



I'lIKSIDKNT, 



Chief, DlvisiO)i of Boianij if PUnit Puthologij und Diicctur of ilic 

 Botanical Survey, Ui}io)i of SoiitJi Afriea. 



With Plates I— XXVIII, and 1 Map. 



Presidential Addresi^ deJicercd Julij 14, ll>2n 



As is customary on occasions like this I have several short 

 and time-honoured digressions to make before coming to the 

 subject of my address First of all it is. my painful duty to refer 

 to the loss which the country has sustained, since we last met, 

 in the death of two distinguished South Africans. One of these 

 was a past President of this Association, Sir Hamilton 

 Goold-Adams — formerly Governor * of the Orange Free State — 

 who took the chair at the meetings of this?, Association at 

 Bloemfontein in 1909. Sir Hamilton was keenly interested in 

 science and all its applications, and anyone who reads his 

 presidential address, delivered just over ten years ago, cannot help 

 being forcibly impressed by the wisdom of his words and the 

 urgent need which then existed for their application. 



Then in the death of General Botha, not only South Africa, 

 but the world at large has sufferi'd a very grievous loss. Although 

 the first Union Premier was not a member of this Association he 

 took a most active part in the scientific development of the 

 country, and as one who speaks from personal experience, having 

 been privileged to serve under him, I can say without fear of 

 contradiction that he ha* been largely responsible for the rapid 

 agricultural development of the Union through the unstinted and 

 encouraging support which he always rendered his technical 

 advisers. He gave more than careful and sympathetic 

 consideration to any reasonable proposals for the advancement of 

 the country's prosperity. Although he is regarded by the majority 

 only as a great politician, in reality he was nnbued with the true 

 scientific spirit, and like Science herself took no cognisance of 

 race, nationality or party where questions of truth, knowledge and 

 the world's welfare were concerned. His was a marvellous 

 personality, he was everyone's friend. Ill can South Africa and 

 Science in general afford to lose s.o noble a statesman. 



Secondly, I wish to convey to the members of this Association 

 my very great appreciation of the honoau" which they have done 



* Illustrated by lantern slides from the author's photographs. 



