Agriculture a\d Soils of the Cape Province. ;)51 



THE AGRICULTURE AND SOILS OF THE CAPE 



PROVINCE. 



By Arthuk Stead, B.Sc, F.C.S., Research Chemist, 

 Grootfoiitein School of Agricxiltiire, Middelburg-, Cape. 



WITKOP-BrRGHERSDOEP. 



(Continued frnvi page 158, .1/////, 1920.) 



Geological. 

 A FEW words ill explanation of the selection of the soil samples 

 are necessary because, owino- to oircnmstances, it was not possible to 

 follow a definite geological plan. 



The writer had visited Witkop to speak at a farmers' meeting 

 about the factors which are concerned in the growth of crops, in- 

 cluding food supply. During the discussion at the meeting requests 

 were made that samples oF soil typical of the area should ])e analysed, 

 and these having been agieed to. it became necessary to consider ways 

 and means oi obtaining rejjresentative samples. 



No maps* were available excepting the altogetlier unsuital)le 

 divisional niaps.t Tt was therefore considered advisable to rely on 

 the judgment of the farmers, Avho were accordingly recjuested to form 

 tliemselves into a committee and decide which farms would furnish 

 typical samples. 



In every case, however, the actual spots sam])led were selected by 

 ,the writer. Tlie following is a list of the farms from which samples 

 were taken : — 



Paardenverlies. Kalkfontein. Krauifonlein. Lcmoen Kraal. 



Olivier's Rust. The Willows. Witkop. 



The topography and the geologyj of the area, the farms, and 

 the approximate localities from w^hich the samples were taken, are 

 indicated by the map on Plate III, which map has been reproduced 

 from an adaptation! of Dunn's Map of the Stormberg Coalfields.il 



Du Toit in recent years revised a portion of Dunn's work, in- 

 cluding the farms Wonderpoort, Dankfontein, and Vaalbank, which 

 adjoin The Willows, Olivier's Rust, and Kraaifontein. That author 

 states " the revision has necessitated only a few alterations in the 

 boundaries of the sub-divisions of the strata Iniilding rip the area, 

 bnt great changes have been made in the course of mapping the 

 dolerite sheets. "II 



* The existence of the out-of-print geolup;ical map of Dunn was then unsuspected and it 



was only through the courtesy of Dr. A. L. du Toit that one of the few existing copies 

 liccame available subsequently. 



t These maps are out of date and very lacking in topograj)hical detail. 



X The greatest use has been made of the Reports of the Geological Commission (Cape), 

 nnd of "The Geology of the Cape Colony." by Rogers and Du Toit, wliile the writer is greatly 

 imlelited to the latter author for having read over these notes and made suggestions. 



§ By my colleague. E. J. v. Meerten, Lecturer in Engineering. 



jl E. .T. Dunn, Report on the Stormberg Coalfields, G4— '78, C.T. 



^ A. L. du Toit, Geological Commission, 16th Annual Report. 



