Journal of the Department op Agriculture. 



methods ot fanning', the rising value of farm land, and in many other 

 ways. For instance, in 1898, the year before the Ang-lo-Boer war, 

 there were imported into South Africa £3,500,000 wortli of grain, 

 meat, and other foodstuffs, and the value of agricultural expoTts 

 (excluding- ostrich feathers) amounted to £3,800,000, of which wool 

 and moliair contributed £3,000,000. Against this, in 1918, when 

 ]>oi)nlation was greater and prices much higher, the imports of similar 

 ioodstuft's had fallen to £2,165,317, while the exports of farm produce 

 (excluding- ostrich feathers) amounted to £17,610,042. Further, 

 whereas in 1898 maize and maize meal to the value of £184,312 were 

 imported into South Africa, the trade has now been reversed, and in 

 1918 we exported £2,262,469 worth of these products. It is true that 

 ill 1918 our ex])orts l)enetited by the prevailing high prices, but on 

 tlie other h;ind our oversea export trade suffered through lack of 

 trcijiht and ot arrested ])roduction owing to scarcity of fertilizers, etc. 

 See how dairying has advanced. The days of individual and 

 often hapliazaid butter-making have vanished, and co-operative dairy- 

 ing is lapidlv spreading. In 1898 we imported butter and substitutes 

 to tlip value of £289,041 and cheese £98,433, but twenty years later 

 ^^•e c.rportcd £96,75(j woith of butter and £25,911 of cheese, both of a 

 liigli standard of quality. 



I'he same tendency is noted in all oar imports and exports; the 

 one is steadily decreasing and the other, both in quantity and quality, 

 rapidly rising. No longer do we import huge quantities of meat; 

 instead the past few years have seen the commencement of what is 

 probably going to be one of the Union's chief: agricultural exports — 

 meat. No longer does imported jam vie with, and often oust, our 

 local jams; to-cUiy the home article is found on all tables and is finding 

 its way to the oveisea market. Wool, still our most important pastoral 

 exiiort, continues to mount rapidly in value; the phenomenal prices 

 obtained for it recently are in the minds of all. The trade in wattle 

 bark and extract, an entirely new industry, lias made great progress, 

 and it is interesting to note that a portion of our production goes to 

 Australia, the home of the wattle. Sugar is now an exportable 

 commodity; formerly it was imported to meet deficient production. 

 In addition, several new products are coming to the fore. Lucerne 

 seed is being exported to the Argentine and Australia; beans are sent 

 to Enaland for seed and for consvunption ; the shipments of cotton are 

 increasing, and chicory and several minor crops are also very 

 promising. Tobacco growing is an important industry, and markers 

 l^eyond the local one are necessary for its produce. A short time ago 

 pigs wero much neglected; now they are in great demand for bacon. 

 The i)roduction of eggs (considered a small matter by the farmer with 

 wide acres, but of much importance to many people and the country 

 at large) instances also the spirit of progress, for instead of importing 

 large quantities as in earlier years, we now supply our own wants and 

 have an ap])reciable surplus for export. 



A sigiiihcant feature of our progress is revealed in the value of 

 farir requisites imported. During the year before the Anglo- Boer 

 war, 181)8. the imports ol agricultural machinery and implements 

 were valued at £192,471, whereas in 1913 they amounted to £B15,885. 

 This is remarkable when the comparatively small number of farmers 

 in the ITnion is taken into account. 



While the returns of imports and exports furnish a good 



