ECOLOGICAL NOTES 223 



CULTIVATION. 



Very large areas are cultivated by the Natives. In the 

 low-lying areas, river valleys, etc., mealies and Kafir corn 

 are largely groA^Ti. On higher land wheat and oats do 

 very well. Pumpkins, potatoes and small quantities of 

 beans, peas, and tobacco are grown. Most stone fruits, 

 especially peaches, do very well, as also do pears, quinces, 

 etc. In some parts of the district towards the Orange 

 River prickly pear is gaining a hold. Poplars, Willows 

 and Pines do well. On the mountainous portions of the 

 district pine plantations would probably do very well, 

 and would be beneficial in checking erosion. The forma- 

 tion of numerous deep dongas and gullies is certainly 

 detracting from the agricultural possibilities of the dis- 

 trict. No attempt is being made to check their forma- 

 tion. The soil must be very fertile, for the Natives reap 

 good crops year after year without manuring the soil at 

 all. Untimely frosts, the dry period in spring and hail 

 storms, which are prevalent when the wheat is ripening, 

 do considerable damage. 



Among the weeds of cultivation are: — Er odium cicu- 

 tarium^ Acrotome inflata (in sandy soil), Oxalis sp. {? 

 ^mithii), Malva parvi flora, Chenopodium murale, Ron- 

 Meva ruiiltifida, Rumex acetosella, Hibiscus trioniun^ 

 Convolvulus ulosepalus, C. sp. {f arvensis), Rumex nepa- 

 lensiSy Gnaplialium sp. if luteo-alhum) , Polygonum avi- 

 culare. Herniaria Jilrsuta, Solanum nigrum, Bidens sp., 

 Panicum sp. (f minus), Setaria aurea. 



This account of the flora of Herschel District is not 

 complete. I could not make a complete collection owing 

 to lack of time, and some of the specimens have not yet 

 been determined. For the names of the plants men- 

 tioned I am indebted to Dr. S. Schonland, of Rhodes 

 University College, and to the Albany Museum, Grahams- 

 town. 



