Departmental Activities. 31 



POTCHEFSTROOM, TRANSVAAL. 



Mr. G. J. Bosiuan, Technical Assistant, who recently visited 

 the Transkeian Territories for the purpose of furnishing advice 

 in regard to the cultural methods employed by natives in tho e 

 parts, especially in respect of maize, has furnished the following note 

 for publication : — 



Farming in the Transkeian Territories. — A person visiting the 

 Transkeian Territories cannot help being struck with the enormous- 

 agricultural potentialities of the country. In topography it is 

 undulating, and in some parts quite mountainous. Besides being 

 fairly watered, it has a good rainfall compared with other parts of 

 the TJnion. The average annual rainfall for Umtata was 23.5 inches 

 for the period 1900-1921. The soil is quite productive, especially 

 in the valleys. In some parts the country is thickly populated, e.g. 

 Tembuland, while in other parts again it is sparsely settled, e.g. 

 Pondoland. 



Live Stock. — The total number of cattle in the Territories is 

 given as 733, 3G7 head. This figure would have run into millions 

 if it had not been for the ravages of the East Coast fever which has 

 been prevalent there for the last decade. By systematic compulsory 

 dipping it is now well under control, and the number of cattle is 

 sure to increase very fast from now on. 



Some areas, especially East Griqualand, Tembuland, and Fingo- 

 land, appear to be excellent cattle countries, and contrary to what 

 one would expect, the quality of the native cattle is quite fair. The 

 class kept is not any different from those bred by most Europeans 

 in South Africa to-day. In no single instance did the writer see any 

 real Kaffir cattle of the type one comes across in Zululand and 

 Damaraland. The Shorthorn breed does very well, and would 

 probably be one of the best beef breeds for those parts. 



Some districts, e.g. Butterworth and Idutywa, seem to be admir- 

 ably suited for the raising of Merino sheep, and numerous small 

 flocks are seen everywhere. Goats are also fairly plentiful, and' 

 seem to thrive best in the mountainous country along the Kei River 

 and along the coast. While pigs remain the scavengers of the 

 native kraals, it is not likely that tliis industry (on account of 

 mea.sles) will make much progress. 



Crops. — Maize is the main crop. The variety mostly grown is a 

 little yellow flint, which is preferred by the native to any other 

 variety on account of its good keeping qualities when stored in 

 pits. The total production for the Territories is not known, and it 

 would be a most difficult undertaking to compute same, as there 

 are hundreds of thousands of little fields of all sizes and shapes 

 dotted all over the country. Just as impossible as it would be to 

 survey all these little fields, likewise would it be to try and ascertain 

 the yield each native secures, as the grain is carried unbagged 

 straight to the pits after shelling. When the population of nearly 

 one million is taken into consideration, it is roughly estimated that 

 the country must produce at least a million bags of grain to keep 

 the population alive; but it is likely that in a good season this yield 

 is considerably higher, 



