37— SOUTH AFRICAN HORTICULTURE. 

 By T. R. Sim, F.L.S., Conservator of Forests, Natal. 



The separating line between horticulture and agriculture is 

 difficult to define. Certain crops, like grapes, cabbages, and pota- 

 toes, belong to the former when cultivated on a small scale, and to the 

 latter when cultivated on a large scale. Other crops, like mealies 

 and beetroot, belong to the former when certain varieties are growij for 

 household use, and to the latter when other varieties are grown for 

 stock-feed or milling. The two terms really overlap, and what is 

 pure horticulture in one country or district, like plum or strawberry 

 culture, may be as pure agriculture in another, through variation in 

 extent, methods, and uses. In South Africa, as elsewhere, the local 

 limitations of horticulture are somewhat arbitrary, landscape work 

 and floriculture, as well as extensive farming operations in fruit and 

 vegetables, being included thereunder, while agriculture covers rather 

 the raising of crops intended for stock-feed or for milling. Garden 

 culture as against field culture hardly applies, since the garden may 

 be up to any size, while the field may be very small indeed, and in 

 either case the nature of the work may be either intensive or extensive. 

 For the purposes of the present paper, fruit, flowers, vegetables, 

 decorative trees and shrubs, ornamental plants, and landscape art 

 are considered under horticulture, whatever the scale on which opera- 

 tions are carried on. 



Early History. 



In the early history of South Africa horticulture evidently played 

 a proportionately larger part in the domestic economy than it does 

 to-day, the first settlement at the Cape having been established in 

 1652 by the Netherlands East India Company for the express purpose 

 of supplying fresh vegetables, etc., and water, to its passing ships. 

 Within a year from that date vines were imported from Europe, and 

 during the succeeding years propagation and further importation of 

 the vine took place largely, the stand of vine plants 35 years after- 

 wards (i.e., before the arrival of the Huguenots) being more than half 

 a million, though the population was then still under 500. Wine- 

 making began before the settlement was eight years old, and brandy- 

 making before it was 30 years old. The interest taken in the gardens 

 at that time is shown by some of the earliest Dutch placaats, No. 5, 

 dated December 21st, 1653, fixing the penalty for robbing the gardens 

 at two years in chains, while No. 52, dated February 21st, 1660, fixes 

 the penalty for injuring fruit trees at 12 months' hard labour. Even 

 at that early date the Company imported European fruit trees, as 

 well as oaks, pines, poplars, etc., and planted them in its own 

 gardens, while by Placaat No. 48, 1659, " All the freemen on the 

 other side of the river Liesbeek were ordered to enclose their lands 

 with pega-pegas, and to plant them with wild almonds." 



