12 rRKSIJ)ENT S ADDEKSS. 



out-cropping kopjes usually composed of massive boulders of 

 granite. The rainfall in this area varies very considerably and 

 may be from 70 inches in the eastern portion to 15 inches in the 

 extreme western. 



The general aspect of the veld is park-like, that is to say, \i) 

 is covered witJi tree.s which vary m height from 30 tO' 50 ft., but 

 which are sufficiently far apart to allow means of existence for a 

 dense growth of grass, undershrubs and herbs. Along the river 

 valleys the vegetation is much more luxuriant in character. 



Inland lakes, pans, and lagoons are also not uncommon in 

 this area. 



The greater part of the vegetation in the Low Veld can be 

 described as a Thorn Veld, in which the Knoppiesdoorn {Acacia 

 pallens) is one of the most characteristic and dominant trees, 

 especially in the dry open country. Other common trees typical 

 of the Low Veld are: — The Maroola {Sclerocarya caffra), the 

 Tambootie {Excoecaria africana), the Jakhalsbossie (Diospyros 

 mespiliformis), the Hardekool {Combretu>n porphyrolepis), the 

 Waterhout (Syzygiinn rordatum), the Van Wyk's bout 

 (Bolusanthus speciosiis) the Boerboom [Scliotia hrachypetah), 

 the Huilbos {Peltuphonim africanum), the Silckelbos 

 (Dichrostachys nutans), the Haaken-steek (Acacia spirocarpoides), 

 the Fever tree (Acacia xanthopliJoea), the ^Nlingerhout (Adina 

 Galpini), the liuikpcul (Acacia arabica var. kraiissiana), 

 Loncliocarpus inossa)nbiccnsis and Androstacliys Johnsoni. 



On the deep alluvial flats in Portuguese East Africa the 

 Mahogany tree (Afzelia quanzensis), the Rooi Essehout (Trichilia 

 cmetica), the Sausage-tree (KigeJia pinnata) the Hardepeer 

 [Stryclniofi Henningsii) and Brachystegia appendiculata occur 

 more frequently. 



At liigher altitudes just below the foothills of the 

 Drakensberg the Kajatenhout (Pterocarpus erinaceus) and 

 Bastard Kameel Doom (Acacia lasiopetala) are common, the 

 former often becoming the most abundant tree in the veld. With 

 these two the Grijsappelboom (Parinarium mobala) is frequently 

 associated. 



On the Olifaiits. Eiver, Croton Gubonga is plentiful along the 

 banks, while Terminalia pruinoides and Balsa modendron 

 Africanu)}) dominate the bush in the drier valleys. 



In the Limpopo Valley in the Northern Transvaal the 

 Baobab (Adansoriia digitata) and Mopane (Copaifera mopane) are 

 characteristic of the Low Veld. 



The Low Veld is undoubtedly the most fertile tract of 

 country in South Africa. Its variety of soils and sub-ti'opical or 

 tropical climate render it eminently suitable for agricultural 

 purposes. 



Sugar is the main crop cultivated in the southern portion, 

 while much of the land towards the north is suitable for ranching 

 and the cultivation of fibre and oil crops. 



The natural resources in this area include much valuable 

 timber, wliicli is yielded by sucli trees as the Kajatenhout — 

 Piciornrpiis rrinaccus, the ^Mahogany Afzelia quanzensis 



