212 MR. IVAX D. HEPBURN 



early, summer did considerable damage to the veld, form- 

 ing sluits. Footpaths are made, which tend to become 

 sluits rapidly. Xow considerable areas of veld are re- 

 served during the late summer and winter, giving the 

 grass a chance to seed. 



2. Stock: — The district is overstocked with cattle., 

 sheep and goats, consequently the grass and edible shrubs 

 are kept short and often destroyed, while other plants 

 take tlicir place (usually certain Composites and Labi 

 ates). The stock form numerous paths which facilitate 

 the erosion of the soil and destruction of the vegetation. 



Increasing Aridity. 



There is no doubt that the influence of man (in burn- 

 ing the veld, overstocking the country, destroying the 

 bush) has increased, and is still increasing, the aridity 

 of the country- (whether the rainfall has been affected 

 or not). This is very evident on the mountains. Areas 

 that were covered vrith tussocks of grass are now covered 

 with composites (chiefly of cricoid habit). This can be 

 seen on the Xojigi Range above Majuba Xek, where the 

 dry tussocks of grass ma}^ still be seen amongst the much 

 more xerophytic Composites. It is interesting to notice 

 on the top of the peak above Majuba Nek, which is not 

 accessible to stock, grasses are dominant, while on the 

 rest of the mountain top (a narrow plateau of the same 

 height and soil), which is accessible to stock, xerophytic 

 composites and Passoina are dominant. It is instruc- 

 tive to observe the Wittebergen Range between Herscliel 

 District and Lady (irey; on the llerschel side xerophyti<* 

 composites are dominant, and on the Lady Grey side of 

 the fence (where the country is not stocked to the same 

 extent) tussock grass is often dominant. The scattered 

 composites do not bind the soil ns well as the compact 

 tussocks of grass. Hence in many parts erosion is taking 

 place very rapidly, denuding arens of all the vegetation 

 and exposing the underlying rock. 



