180 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



THE BOTANICAL SURVEY OF THE UNION. 



A Matter of Far-reaching Importance. 



A matter wliicli had long- been advocated by the Division of 

 Botany and urg-ed on by the Scientific and Technical Committee took 

 definite shape when on the 18th February, 1918, at a meeting for the 

 purpose of discussing- the organization of a Botanical Survey of the 

 TTnion, attended by officers of the Divisions of Botany and of 

 Veterinary Research, the Forest Department and the Schools of Agri- 

 culture, it was unanimously decided that the aims and scope of the 

 survey should be : — 



(1) -To continue and extend the survey and systematic work 



already carried out by the Division of Botany on the 

 vegetation of the country. 



(2) To continue and extend the survey work already carried out 



by the Division of Veterinary Eesearch on the relation of 

 such vegetation to tlie unsolved stock diseases of South 

 Africa. 



(3) To continue and extend the collections of the plant parasites 



of the indigenous vegetation already made by the Division 

 of Botany and proceed with its examination as a possible 

 reservoir of diseases of cultivated plants and of domesti- 

 cated animals, and, in particular, map their distribution. 



(4) To continue and extend the work already accomplished by 



the Forest Department in further ascertaining the composi- 

 tion of the indigenous forests, the value of their products, 

 and their industrial possibilities. 



(5) To study the vegetation from an industrial point of view. 



(6) To study the vegetation in its relation to agricultural and 



pastoral developments. 



(7) To study the plant succession under natural and artificial 



conditions. 



(8) To study the vegetation of the veld in connection with its 



feeding value and carrying capacity and distinguish 

 botanically between "sour" and "sweet" velds, good 

 and bad pastures. 



(9) To study the disturbing influence of burning, manuring, 



cultivation, drainage, irrigation, overstocking, insect and 

 plant pests on the natural vegetation. 



(10) To study plant distribution according to geological, 

 orographical, and climatalogical conditions, and the con- 

 ditions which influence the different plant formations. 



(11) To extend our knowledge of the medicinal and poisonous 

 plants of the countr5^ 



