230 Journal op the Department of AGRicuLfURfi. 



Mr. Robertson and his four brotliers own farms whicli are not, it is 

 true, actually in the George Division, but lie in the adjoining Divi- 

 sion of Mossel Bay; they are, however, so near to the George 

 ))oundary — only some six miles west thereof — that they may well be 

 considered as belonging to the area which excels all others in sweet 

 potato production. As regards rainfall, however, Little Brak River 

 is less favourably situated than George, and east of George the rain- 

 fall is even higher. 



In order personally to inspect the harvesting of the sweet potato 

 crops and to collect samples both of the ~ different varieties of the 

 plant under cultivation as well as of the soil on which it is grown, a 

 visit was paid towards the end of September last to Mr. W. E. 

 Robertson's farm with its 80 acres of sweet potatoes. Apart from sweet 

 potato culture, there are many points of interest about this farm 

 which suffice in themselves to repay inspection. In passing, it may 

 be mentioned that the now sub-divided farm, whereof it formed a 

 part, at one time belonged to Mr. Robertson's father, the late Mr. 

 Donald Robertson, whose brother, the late Mr. Alfred G. Robertson, 

 used to represent the Division of George in the old Cape House of 

 Assembly. The part now held by Mr. W. E. Robertson is situated 

 between the two tributaries of the Little Brak River,* and is unique 

 in respect of its successful growing of a number of sub-tropical plants. 

 The household has been accustomed to the use of coffee from actual 

 coffee trees which are still thriving excellently on the farm. For 

 a number of years pawpaws flourished there, and the dried stems 

 remain to bear some evidence to the size they attained. Several 

 avocado pear trees may still be seen profusely laden with young fruit, 

 and a little plantation of sugar-cane adds to the Natalian features of 

 the surrounding scenery ; nor must I omit reference to the fact that 

 a cr.)|) of 3000 custard apples was harvested this season, while mangoes 

 are also being grown on the farm. 



The homestead stands some way up the southern slope, and near 

 the eastern end of a long low hill. The hill does not much exceed 

 100 feet in height and stretches east and west for nearly a mile. The 

 Moordkuil stream, which is the eastern affluent of the Little Brak, 

 after turning the flank of this hill, winds some distance further in 

 a southerly direction, and then flows west towards the confluence of 

 the two tributaries. Within the space enclosed between hill and river 

 a semi-circular level plateau extends below the homestead to a 

 distance of about 700 yards. Outside the semi-circle the level 

 suddenly drops some 9 feet to an alluvial deposit, and thus continues 

 to the river. On this lower level, between the plateau and the river, 

 the best sweet potato harvests are gathered from a field lying in a 

 direct line between Mr. Robertson's homestead and Rooiheuvel farm. 

 The soil of this field used to be cultivated at least 35 or 40 years ago, 

 and has ever since lain fallow until four years ago, when a somewhat 

 more intensive cultivation was begun. First of all the field was put 

 under wheat; then mealies were grown on it; next it bore a crop of 

 sweet potatoes, followed by peas, and then again sweet potatoes. At 

 the time of my visit, beans had recently been sown on the land, and 

 were about 3 inches high. The soil, which is represented by No. 2 

 (see fig. 1), is dark in colour and has never been manured. 



* oee Fig. 1. 



