Successful Farming on Government Small Holdings. 53 



The loose assets on the farm consist of 2 mowers, 2 rake§, 4 

 ridging ploughs, 1 disc harrow, 2 planters, 4 cultivators, baling press 

 with horse gear, 2 harrows, wagon and trek gear, 2 bucksails, 1 cart 

 and harness, spades, picks, shovels, etc., and the live stock are 20 

 oxen, 4 cows, 1 bull, 6 heifers, and 2 horses. The value of these 

 assets is placed at £1000. 



The area under cultivation during the 1919-1920 season was 75 

 morgen, and the income from the farm that season was as follows: — 



960 bags mealies at 23s.* £1104 



90 bags kaffir corn at 23s 103 10 



1800 bales teff at 9s. per 100 lb 810 



600 bales manna at 9s. per 100 lb 270 



800 bales mealie hay at 4s. 6d. per 100 lb. ... 180 

 700 bales mealie leaves (kept for feeding 



oxen, but could have been sold) — 



Green mealies, no account kept, but say 20 



Poultry, eggs, milk, butter, etc., consumed on 



farm. — not valued — 



£2487 10 



The expenses incurred in obtaining the above income are given 

 as follows : — 



Two boys kept throughout the year at £3 per 



month £72 



Cost of extra labour, harvesting, threshing, 



baling wire, bags, etc 194 10 



£266 10 



In addition to these expenses there was the farmer's labour for 

 the whole year, which is not included. The out-of-pocket expenses 

 are remarkably low, and in most cases would be 20 per cent, higher, 

 so the total expenses, not allowing for depreciation, may be placed at, 

 say, £320. 



The 1919-1920 season on the Transvaal high veld was not excep- 

 tional ; indeed, the rainfall was below the average, though it fell 

 nicely over Strypan and its immediate vicinity, as shown in the 

 following returns, viz. : — 



September, 1919, .01 inch (2 days). 

 October, 1919, 2.70 inches (3 days). 

 November, 1919, 4.00 inches (9 days). 

 December, 1919, 2.66 inches (3 days). 

 January, 1920, 4.16 inches (10 days). 

 February, 1920, 2.77 inches (5 days). 

 March, 1920, 1.58 inch (7 days). 

 April, 1920, .40 inch (2 days). 

 May, 1920, .46 inch (2 days). 



* Note.— 600 bags of mealies had not been sold but as the other had realized 27s. and 

 25s. 6d., the price taken seems reasonable. 



