lU phesidext's ajjukess. 



Lim'popo Valley. On the whole it is a low-lying tract of country, 

 which has an elevation of 2,500 to 4,000 ft., although in the 

 eastern portion the elevation varies considerably and is some 

 6,y00 It. on the Lulu range, while at the junction of the 

 Steelpoort and Olif ant's Eiver it is only 1,800 ft. above sea level. 



The eastern portion consists of broken and hilly country, 

 while the centre is flat and undulating. In the west the general 

 uniformity of the land surface has been interfered with by past 

 volcanic activity of the Pilansberg. 



The rainfall varies considerably in this area, and is erratic 

 in its distribution. In the low-lying valleys to the east it is 

 extremely scanty, over the central portion it ranges from 20 to 

 30 inches per annum, and becoines rather less to the west. The- 

 soils thro'Ughout are mostl}' deep and sandy, but large areas are 

 also composed of black "turf" soil, which is typical of this 

 region. 



The " turf " usually only supports grass and thorn bush, 

 whereas grass, trees and bush cover the sandy soils. Bush veld is 

 characterised by a fairly uniform growth of bush, which ranges 

 from 15 tO' 30 ft. in height. As a rule there is considerable space 

 betwee-n the trees and bushes, but the country is of such a nature 

 that without a compass it is extremely difficult to find one's way 

 or bearings when surrounded by bush on all sides. The character 

 and composition of the bush varies considerably. Thom trees 

 dominate the veld throughout, but in the broken country to the 

 east arborescent Nabooins (Euphorbia ingens and E. Couperi) are 

 the most characteristic trees. The thorn trees consist chiefly of 

 the Haak-en-steek {Acacia spirocarpoides), the Kameeldoorn (.4. 

 Giraffae), the Haakdoorn (.4. detinens), the Doornboom (.4. 

 Karroo), the Aapiesdoorn (.4. Burhci), the Kaffir Wacht-een-bietje 

 (^4. caffra), the Ruikpeul [A. Benthami), Acacia hebeclada, the 

 Sikkelbos (DicJirostaclnjs niitaiis) and the Huilbos (Pcltoplionini 

 africanum). 



Other typical trees are the Wilde Sering (Burkea africana), 

 the Beukenhout (Faurea saligna), the Vaalboom (Terminalia 

 sericea), the Maroola (Sclerocarya caffra), the Wonderboom 

 (Boscia Rchuianniana), the Drolpeer (Doinbcya dcusifiora), the 

 Olijvehout (Olea verrucosa), the Red Ivory (Rhamnvs Zeyheri), 

 the Guarri (E^iclea nndidata), the Oliepitten {Pappea capensis), 

 the Zuurpruim (Ximenia americana), the Respies (Heeria 

 panicuJata,), the Eooibosch (Couibrctum Guenzii and ('. Zcylicri), 

 the Kiepersol (Cussonia panicidata, C. spicata and C. natalensis) , 

 the Blinkhlaar wacht-een-bietje (Zizy pints mucronata), the 

 Vaalbos {Tarchonanthus camphoratus), Odina discolor, Kirkia 

 Wihnsii, and Ochna pulchra. 



Typical succulents in this area, apart from the Xaabooms- 

 {Euphorbia ingens and E. Cooperi), are Eupliorbia Tirucalli, Aloe 

 Marlothii, Aloe Wickensii, Aloe Pienaarii, Aloe globnligemma. 

 Aloe Greatheadii, Aloe Davyana, Aloe castanea, and Aloe 

 transvaalensis. 



In the western portion of the Bush Veld, in addition to the 

 thorn trees mentioned above, several species ol Kareeboom (Rhus 

 lancea, R. Gueinzii and R. incana) are conspicuous in the veld. 



