ri{KSI])ENT S ADDRESS. 40 



14. — The Cameel Thorn Veld of Southern Damaraland 

 (Plate XVIII). 



Occupying a comparatively small tract of country in Southern 

 Damaraland, a type of veld is found very different from that which 

 occurs in the adjoining region to- the south, in Great Namaqualand. 



Instead of low xerophytic bush and scrub, a distinct park-like 

 or even forest type of scenery prevails. This type of veld. 

 coincides very closely with that part of the country which is 

 commonly known as Bastardland. It consists of deep sandy 

 flats well covered with high trees and grass. The dominant tree 

 is the Kameeldoorn (Acacia Giraffae), which is responsible for 

 giving the country the appearance of being densely wooded. 

 Other common thorn trees and bushes in this, veld are the 

 Doornboom (Acacia Karroo), the Haakdoom (Acacia dctincns), 

 the Terassi Bos (Acacia stolonifera), and Acacia hebeclada and the 

 Kriedoorn (Lyciitm sp.) 



The grass is mainly Aristida ciliata and other species of the 

 same genus. On the southern outskirts of this Camel Thorn 

 Veld, where the soil is a little shallower, the veld is composed of 

 grass in which stunted Haakdoorn bushes and large Witgat 

 (Boscia albitrunca and B. Transvaalensis) trees are scattered 

 about. 



15. — The Cape Veld ou South Western Veld (Phtic XIX). 



Occupying a narrow angular strip of country in the extreme 

 south-west corner of the Capei Province is a type of veld unlike 

 that in any other part of South Africa. To botanist> the region 

 has long been known as the South Western Region of the Cape 

 Province. For the purposes of this address I shall refer to it as 

 '• The Cape Veld." 



It is the best known botanically of all the types of veld in 

 South Africa, and has been very fully described by such able 

 botanists as Bolus and Marloth, so that it will not be necessary 

 for me tO' do more than describe in the briefest manner its most 

 salient features. 



Its north-western arm extends as far as the Bokkeveld 

 Mountains, with outliers on the Kamiesberg, while its eastern 

 extension reaches to the Sundays Eiver Valley and includes the 

 forests of George and Knysna . On the north it is bounded by the 

 Karroo, although islands of typical Cape Veld occur in the Karroo 

 along the tops of the mountain ranges such as Zwartebergen, 

 Wittebergen, etc. 



The country on the whole is very mountainous, the mountains 

 being rugged and bare. 



On the mountain slopes, valleys and sandy flats, the veld is. 

 composed of stunted bushes and shrubs which range in height 

 from 3 to 6 ft. The dominant and most typical bush throughout 

 the region is the Rhenoster Bush (Ehjtropappus rhinocerotis). ' 



The average annual rainfall is about 29 inches, most of which 

 falls during the winter months. 



Along the coast the common plants are SaJicornia friiticosa, 

 ChenoJea diffusa, Statice scabra. Grasses are very few in number, 

 the mo■^t typical are Stenotapininn gJabrum and Eragrostis 



