AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. S^J 



dead season of the year, when the harvests are in and the plough- 

 ing more or less finished. 



The attempts made so far in the four Provinces to collect 

 agricultural statistics can at best only be called spasmodic. I 

 think we all agree that the time has arrived when an honest 

 attempt should be made to collect, compile, tabulate and publish 

 reliable statistics for South Africa. 



Enumerators, Agents and Correspondents. 



In the Transvaal, so far, we have had the field-cornets to 

 assist us in the collection of actual data, and with them corres- 

 pondents to assist with the estimates. The native commissioners, 

 and also the police, have contributed their share towards the work. 

 The question now to be dealt with is, who are to be the enumer- 

 ator- ? 



The Provinces differ, and the past systems of Government 

 differed; but now a uniform system of Government is being intro- 

 duced. We already stand under one Agricultural Department. 



We have the magistrates, who could supervise as far as their 

 magisterial divisions are concerned. The stock inspectors, the 

 police, schoolmasters, native commissioners, and missionaries 

 among the natives, are all mentioned as capable men who might 

 assist. But then how about remuneration? It is admitted that 

 the work ought to be done with as little expense as possible. 



To appoint men who will neglect their work will never do. 

 I think that we ought not to confine ourselves to one single class, 

 but make use of whatever good material we can lay our hands on. 

 For instance, the stock inspectors may be good men in one or 

 another province, and the police again in another ; whereas the 

 native commissioners may be the right men for the natives. 



The question, therefore, as to who are to be the enumerators 

 is not easily settled. Unfortunately, mankind is beset with evils, 

 and that is just where the difficulty lies, to get so many hundreds 

 of enumerators, agents and correspondents who will honestly and 

 conscientiously and in a capable manner collect and supply the 

 required data. It is not essential that the enumerators should be 

 university men precisely; a knowledge of elementary arithmetic 

 is sufficient. Honesty of purpose is the great essential. Agents 

 and correspondents ought to be men who are practical farmers, or 

 who have a practical knowledge of farming. It is marvellous to 

 see how some of the farmers, although practically uneducated, 

 yet taught by long experience, can estimate correctly the yield of 

 a crop when still on the lands. I know by experience that the 

 great, and I make bold to say the only, drawback is the collection, 

 the acquiring of the figures and information wanted. Once v/e 

 have that, the rest is smooth sailing. 



Once a lady was troubled with certain insects which the old 

 Roman called "Cimices." She could not get rid of them. A 

 tramp heard of this and thought there was a chance to earn, let 



