Notes. 201 



In discussing tlie matter with Dr. Pliillips, particularly the many 

 opinions which exist as to the soundness or otherwise of the practice 

 of veld burning, this officer states that when it is considered that the 

 divergent views expressed are those of our most practical farmers, 

 one is almost forced to the conclusion that there is more than an 

 element of truth in the theories advanced by both sides. He points 

 out that the work recently undertaken by Dr. Bews, in Natal, shows 

 that the grass A^eld in some cases is only a stage in the succession to 

 tree veld, which means that burning must be practised to keep back 

 the succession in order to graze stock, while in other parts of the 

 country the veld in its final stage is a grass veld, where the practice 

 of burning may prove harmful. It is clear, therefore, that no 

 general principle can be applied, and in the research now being 

 carried out each area will need to be studied and investigated 

 independently, and not until the response of the natural flora to 

 external factors is thoroughly understood will it be possible to make 

 any suggestion as to the proper treatment of each particular area. 



There can be no doubt that when once the changes occurring in 

 the veld through the various causes which operate in practical farm- 

 ing to-day are understood, it will be possible to control them, with 

 the result that stock-farming in all its branches will advance consider- 

 ably. The value of investigations on the natural flora of agricultural 

 and pastoral countries is now being recognized, especially in America. 

 In that country during the past decade the grazing value of farms 

 has received attention and the areas have been divided into various 

 grazing types, the maximum carrying capacity estimated, the results 

 of overgrazing investigated, and suggestions put forward for the 

 improvement of the grazing ranges. Dr. L. Cockayne, a well-known 

 New Zealand Botanist, remarks: "If the reaction of a plant to the 

 outer world be sufficiently known, it should be possible to so change 

 the conditions of its environment that its frequency in an association 

 could be so increased or decreased as its agricultural value may 

 suggest." Dr. Cockayne has remarked also that ''' once the different 

 classes of agricultural land are segregated for the next scientific 

 process — intensive ecological investigations and experiment — then it 

 can be truly said that the day of intensified national prosperity has 

 dawned." 



Equally important and allied to veld burning, is the question of 

 stocking a farm to its optimum capacity, which we do not thoroughly 

 understand, as no systematic and detailed work has yet been done to 

 determine the effects of grazing by stock on the natural vegetation. 

 The four kinds of stock usually handled, viz., cattle, horses, sheep, 

 and goats, have not only a more or less definite preference for certain 

 types of grazing, but the effects of their grazing differ markedly. 

 It is patent, therefore, that in view of the various and diversified 

 stock areas of South Africa the investigation of the problem opens up 

 wide possibilities and calls for the most careful attention, and to 

 this end the experiments now being conducted by the Division of 

 Botany at Pretoria have been started. Arrangements are being made, 

 also, for a similar series of experiments in respect of the different 

 types of veld throughout the Union. When once the effects of burn- 

 ing and grazing are fully understood, suggestions will naturally 

 follow as to the best methods of preserving and controlling the veld 

 in such a way that it will yield its maximum grazing, and land 



