The Great Drought Problem of South Africa. 121 



of the farmer to make tlie most use of his veld, and as a result it is 

 frequently overstocked. This leads to overgrazing, which compels 

 an increased movement of stock, as they have to forage over a wider 

 area to obtain their food requirements ; this again tends to the tramp- 

 ling out the veld, and demands the extra energy and thus the 

 greater food requirement of the animal. Animals on such a farm 

 are not in the same condition to meet a drought as are those on farms 

 carrying less stock. But above all, overgrazing results iii the denu- 

 dation of the vegetal covering of the veld, and is the source of many 

 ever-increasing evils. 



The Commission finds: — 



1. The practice of overstocking farms is very prevalent through- 

 out the Union. 



2. Several causes are responsible therefor, among which are 

 extreme seasonal variations and the optimism of the farmer. 



3. Animals on overstocked farms go into drought handicapped by 

 a low condition, as well as little food in prospect, which circumstances 

 lessen their chance of coming through the drought. 



4. The reserving of fodder for use in times of scarcity is a very 

 unusual practice. 



5. Overstocking leads to overgrazing and all its attendant evils. 



6. Largely responsible for drought losses is the almost universal 

 practice of overstocking the farm, and a failure to make any sort of 

 provision for the drought, which the farmer knows will come on him 

 sooner or later. 



Water Supply. 



It is found that on many farms the )iumber of watering places is 

 insufficient, and further, that, generally, watering places are not 

 kept sufficiently clean, and thereby impair the health of the aninwis 

 using them. Moreover, the consequent need to drive stock long dis- 

 tances to watering places has the same evil consequences as sending 

 them from the kraal to the distant veld for pasturage. An animal 

 can live for several weeks without food by drawing on the leserves of 

 food stored in its body, but it has practically no reserve of water. 

 For the functioning of its body water is essential, and, moreover, as 

 the drought proceeds, the animal reqirres an increased supply of 

 water to enable it to digest and dispose of the dry, fibrous matter 

 obtained from the veld at such times. But at such time M'ater is 

 scarce and many animals die, while the stock are congregated around 

 the watejii.g places, regardless of the food supply surrounding Ihem, 



The Commission finds : — 



1. Water is the essential of life, and the provision of adequate 

 supplies of it is a prime necessity in fighting droughts; that Govern- 

 ment should encourage farmers in every way possible to improve the 

 water resources of the farm, and that improvement in this direction 

 will act very materially in fighting drought. 



Deterioration of the Veld. 



It is of vital importance that the vegetal covering of the country 

 should not be impaired, for from it not only does the animal obtain 



