AciRirULTURE AND SOILS OF THE CaPE PROVINCE. l")? 



At the present time a farm of 600 morgen, of wliicli about one- 

 fourth is under cultivation, will carry throughout the year 1000 small 

 and 150 big- stock, by no means a mean achievement. 



The times for sowing", reaping-, lambing, etc., are somewhat 

 dift'erent from those vrhich obtain in districts of lower altitude, but 

 similar latitude. The following- "Farm Year" according- to Mr. 

 Andrew de Klerk, of Lemoenkraal, will, therefore, be of interest: — 



Jannury-Feln-uary ... Reaping, threshing, and tvaiis])0i-ting produce 



to J5urgersth)rp. 



February ... ... Shearing. 



March ... ... New and old lands are ploughed in ])repara- 



tion for potatoes. 



April ... ... ... Rye is sold for grazing purposes. 



May ... ... ... Potatoes are lifted and put in pits. 



May-July ... ... Wheat and oats are sown, also l)arley, particul- 



arly in July. 



August ... ... Potato lands are rei)loughed and harrowed. 



September ... ... Work is confined principally to sheep and 



transportation of ])otatoes to Burgersdorp. 



October ... ... Lambing. 



Novembei- ... ... Potatoes are i)lanted. 



December ... ... Usually a slack month. Potatoes are cii hi vated 



to keep down the weeds. 



Soils, Crops and Yielos. 



Three princijial classe-; or types (it soil ;iie iccognized by the 

 larmer, i.e. 



(1) the black turf* ; 



(2) the sand-bultt; 



(3) the mixed sand and turf. 



llic hlack turf is a heavy clay loam, rich in organic matter, which 

 is found in valley bottoms. The g-round water level is usually not 

 more that a few feet from the surface, while the water itself is well 

 charged with carbonates. 



This type of soil is noted for its lasting fertility. Most crops grow 

 too rank on it, barley invariably lodging. This is the best wheat soil 

 of the district. As far as that crop is concerned the only drawback 

 to the soil is that the crop freciuently g-ets lodged. Potatoes are grown 

 sometimes on the lighter types of this soil. 



When virgin, a forty-fold+ leturn of wheat is obtained in a good 

 season, and the soil continues to gi\e excellent crops for twenty-five 

 years at least. 



The simd-hult is a sedentary fine sandy soil, retentive of moivsture, 

 but infertile, even when virgin. 



* Turf is here doubtless used iu the same sense as the Danish word "torf," meaning 

 peat. 



t A gentle undulation is called a •' bult." 



+ The farmer usually reckons his crop yields in bags from a bag of seed sown. Since 

 the amount of seed sown per acre varies with district, the following data are furnished : — 

 A full hag of wheat sows 2 morgen, of barley L^ morgen, of oats li morgen, of rye 'for seed) 

 8 morgen, and 12 bags of potatoes plant one morgen (2 1/9 acres). 



