The Progress of Agriculture in South Africa. 7 



Itjcusts, lias lieen mastered by particularly Inilliaiit and successful 

 o]j^'aiiizatiou. Altlioug-h there are grounds for believing that visita- 

 tions may be expected from time to time, with the measures now in 

 vogue for combating them tliere is no cause for alarm, and the 

 devastation formerly caused by the i)est Meed no longer be feared. 

 The terrible havoc caused by the locust is well known, and the passing 

 of this menace forms an epoch in the forwari' march of our agriculture. 



So in many other branches of farming the stimulus of the Depart- 

 ment has been beneficial. The remarkable progress of dairying has 

 ah'eady been refeired to. A share is claimed in the development of 

 citrus and deciduous fruit culture and marketing, in the suppression 

 of scab combined with the immense advance in the standard of our 

 sheep and the sorting and packing of wool for market, in the informa- 

 tion obtained through the researches of oui' chemists, especially in 

 soils and fertilizers, while the building up of a comprehensive library 

 of ao-ricultural literature places a wealth of knowledge at the door 

 01 all. 



Probably one of the most useful and successful of all the Depart- 

 ment's activities, and of unsui'passed importance in the country's 

 advance, was the education of farmers through the establishment of 

 schools of agriculture. The work allotted to these institutions is 

 varied and far reaching; the education given to students, the distribu- 

 tion of bulletins, the delivering of lectures and demonstrations given 

 to faimers. and advice freely given have all added to the uplifting 

 of afjriculture. Another striking sign of our advance is the establish- 

 ment of the Government Faculties of Agriculture at the University 

 oi Stellenbosch and the Transvaal University College. 



Xot without precedent in other countries, the spread of co-opera- 

 tion in the Union has at times been chequered, but it is daily 

 I ecoming more firmly established, and its helpfulness is spreading 

 far and wide. The Department has aided in the establishment and 

 supervision of many co-operative societies, xli isiug from the growing- 

 spirit of co-operation are increased production and improved quality, 

 but, above all, is the gratifying sense of greater benefits which will 

 follow the ever strengthening bonds of co-operation in the Union. 



The faaming' industry comprises many branches, each with its 

 particular problems. Much can be written on the progress made by 

 each, and statistical and other evidence thereof can be adduced. It 

 is not possible to do so, however, in this short review, and we must 

 be content to direct attention to some of the phases of progress and 

 lely on the reader's knowledge of agricultural conditions a few years 

 back and of what they are to-day. That our progress has increased with 

 the years is evident. Compared with the jjosition of certain countries, 

 our advance will appear to have been slow; compared with our own 

 resources and disabilities the advance of recent years has been remark- 

 able. We now stand at the threshold of gjeater achievement, for 

 out of our past experience there has been created an atmosphere of 

 scientific inquiry and a desire for good, thoroua-h work which augur 

 ^Aell. In our retrospect we pay homage to the struggles of our 

 agricultural pioneers, and are grateful for the example set us by 

 competent and earnest men who have done so much in uplifting us. 

 In the knowledge that our young men are learning the lessons of the 

 past and are taking advantage of the facilities existing to-day for 

 education and research, we turn with hope to the future. 



