532 Journal op the Department op Agriculture. 



it into an agTicultural country. The change was imperceptible, and 

 however much it was contrary to the wishes and expectations of the 

 founders, was bound to come. In course of time the Company gave 

 up its agricultural undertakings, both in corn-raising and cattle 

 breeding, and looked to the colonists for its grain, meat, and wine. 



Early Land Tenuee. 



The majority of farms held during the seventeenth and 

 eighteenth centuries were on loan tenure. A good pasturage was 

 selected by the grazier, and he applied to the Government for per- 

 mission to settle there for a year. If the place was suitable he had to 

 renew his licence annually, but if it proved unsuitable he would 

 abandon it in course of time and seek fresh pastures further afield, 

 applying again for a new licence. The constant migration of the 

 stock farmer gradually led to the extension of the colony's boundaries. 

 The rights of the farmer in respect of the ground were those of a 

 lessee ; he had no donniniuin in the ground and could not sell it, but 

 was entitled to dispose of the buildings {opatal) which he had erected 

 thereon. The Government, if it so wished, had the right of resuming 

 occupation of the land or of not renewing the lease, in which case 

 it would pay out the farmer for the value of the (■pstal. This 

 uncertainty of tenure did not as a rule perturb the farmer, whose 

 lease as a general practice was always renewed. This early law of 

 land tenure in the Cape Colony was altered by a Proclamation in 

 1813, which placed the issue of land grants on the footing it is to-day, 

 land being given out either in freehold or on perpetual quitrent. 



It must be of historic interest to farmers to-day to learn how 

 a loan place {leenings plaats) was granted. After he liad chosen 

 his land, the agriculturist petitioned Government for the right of 

 occupation, giving a name to some spring or spot round Avhich the 

 property was situated. In passing, it might be remarked that this 

 explains the origin of many of the farm names in the old Cape Colony 

 ending in fontein, as Springfontein, Matjesfontein, Grootfontein, 

 Rheebokfontein, etc. This petition was referred to the landdrost 

 or magistrate of the district, and supporting evidence was obtained 

 from the proprietors of the neighbouring ground that they had no 

 objection to the grant being sanctioned. By instructions issued in 

 1805 the fieldcornet was directed to go to the selected spot and walk 

 half-an-hour in everj^ direction, provided it did not encroach on any 

 land reserved by Government or already occupied. A central spot 

 called the ordonnantie was chosen, and at half-an-hour's walk 

 on every side from here were the points of the boundaries. As 

 ^'walking off" the distance was somewhat uncertain in determining 

 the extent, it was decided that a distance of 750 roods was to be 

 equal to half-an-hour's walk. This gave an area of 3000 morgen. 

 No objection having been raised to the issue of a permit to occupy 

 the land on loan, the same was duly registered at the office of the 

 secretary to the Council of Policy — later on at the Revenue Office. 



The Fiest Experiment. 



Early attempts were made by the Government to produce such 

 articles as cotton, indigo, olive oil, tobacco, silk, etc. In 1682 direc- 

 tions were given to cultivate flax, hemp, and indigo, but the 

 experiments 3howed that it would not answer sufficiently well to 



