pkksidext's address. 29 



they are more easily disposed of than locusts, a comparatjle pest from the 

 farmer's point of view. If it were possible to compare the stock, large 

 and small, now in South Africa, with the antelopes and other large animals 

 200 years ago, it is likely that the present stock would he the greater, 

 because they are protected from the worst effects of drought by means 

 of stored food and water. According to the figures in the 4th edition 

 of the Union Year Book (p. 519) sheep have increased from an average 

 ,of 35 to the square mile in 1904 to 63 in 1918, and allowing for devastation 

 of war, which certainly affected the figures of 1904, and the effect of 

 nurture, the increase is incompatible with increasing drought ; the figures 

 for cattle on p. 515 of .that book give an increase of an average of 7' 3 

 per square mile in 1904 to 12'6 in 1920. 



(64) " The Agricultural Journal," " Farmer's Weekly," and other 

 periodicals often publish correspondence on this subject, and the Report 

 of the Select Committee on Droughts, etc. (Senate, S.C. 2 — 1914) brought 

 out much evidence ; of particular interest is that of Mr. Kanthack on pp. 

 49-55. The series of monthly records' of rainfall from 40 places and the 

 maps, part of Mr. Charles Stewart's evidence, are most valuable. Amongst 

 the conclusions of the Committee the important points for our purpose are 

 (1) that there has been no definite diminution of rainfall during historic 

 times ; (2) that there is considerable variation, which increases in proportion 

 to distance from the coast ; (3) soil erosion has been greatly increased by 

 human activities ; and (4) this erosion is responsible for the desiccation 

 of certain parts of the country and, if unchecked, will render those parts 

 practically useless to man. 



(65) E. N. Marais, " Notes on Some Effects of Extreme Droughts in 

 Waterberg," Agricultural Journal of South Africa, VII, 1914, pp. 164-170. 



(66) F. Jaeger and L. Waibel, " Beitraege zur Landeskunde von Sued- 

 westafrika," Mitt, aus d. Deutsch, Schutzgebieten, Erganzungsheft, 1920, 

 No. 14, pp. 50-51. This and the second volume (Erganzungheft No. 15) 

 contain very valuable accounts of the physical geography of the country, 

 more especially of the northern districts. The question of change of climate 

 is specially discussed on pp. 50-55, and the conclusion is reached that 

 progressive drying-out of South Africa is not proved, and that it is not 

 proliable ; that the ground-water level is subject to important fluctuations 

 extending through periods to be measured in years and decades. He quotes 

 a missionary resident in Amboland during 43 years to the effect that there 

 has been no general decrease in the waters there during that period, only 

 fluctuations. 



(67) The aims of the Survey are clearly stated by Dr. Pole-Evans in 

 the Introduction to Memoir No. 4, " A Guide to Botanical Survey Work," 

 1922; the kind of information desired for comparison of identical areas at 

 long intervals is described in Chapter V, by Dr. J. W. Bews. 



(68) J. S. Henkel, Report of the 14th Annual Meeting of the S.A.A.A.S. 

 1916, pp. 179-186. He points out the importance of forest progress to the 

 conservation of water and soil, and the influence of certain plants in 

 aiding the extension of forest by resisting the spread of fire. 



(69) T. R. Sim, " Causes leading towards progressive Evolution of the 

 Flora of South Africa," South African Journal of Science, 1920, pp. 51-64. 

 Mr. T. G. Trevor writes : "In the south-western Orange Free State the 

 nature of the vegetation has visibly altered in my memory. The grass 

 in the conquered territory and about Edenburg has distinctly altered ; 

 in the former district it was previously close growing, it is now tuft. 

 In the latter bushes are replacing grass." During the meeting of the 

 Association this year Prof. Bews told me that he considers the forest 

 vegetation of the east side of the Drakensberg to be an essentially pro- 

 gressive one. See his paper. " The South-East African Flora," etc.. Annals 

 of Botany, XXXVI, April, 1922. 



(70) " Memorie, houdende de consideratien en advys van het Depart- 

 ment tot de Indische Zaaken, omtrend den Voet en Wyze, waarop de 

 Regeerine van de Caap de Goede Hood, eventuell zal behobren to woorden 

 engericht." Published, with an English translation, by the Van Riebeek 



