Agriculture and Soils of the Cape Province. 825 



soils monopolized by simr rooigras en blauwsaaci gras are poor; that 

 the platblaar and ruigte grassevs are indicative of good soils. A point 

 worthy of note in connection with the indigenous vegetation is that 

 clover grows very well in many localities if protected from stock ; its 

 roots were invariably found to be well infected with the nodule- 

 forming bacteria. 



Reflections. 



There is not the slightest doubt that the development of the Wit- 

 kop area is being held back owing to transport and haulage difficulties 

 which is a pity, because, owing to its considerable acreage of excellent 

 wheat lands, the valuable national asset we possess in this area is only 

 partially developed. The climate is also particularly well suited to 

 wheat culture. True, a large area of the district is taken up by the 

 infertile sandbult soils, but even these could be made fertile by a 

 proper system of farming which would involve the application of 

 phosphatic manures and incidentally the transport of them. 



Plate No. IX. Dankfontein's Nek. 



Volcanic beds surmount the hills. Bo"land sampks were taken here. The small 

 pine trees in the foreground came through the very severe frosts of last winter 

 well. 



As in most other parts of the Union ploughing, harrowing, and 

 transport are dependent on the ox. Transport to and from Witkop 

 is a matter of considerable difficulty ; the railway is far distant 

 (Burghersdorp is the nearest station) and the road is very heavy, 

 especially when there is most call for transport, i.e. from January to 

 April, months during which most of the annual rainfall is precipi- 

 tated. These are the months when the farmer sends his grain to 

 market. To enable him to do so he has to reserve for grazing for his 

 oxen large areas of what could be turned into some of the best wheat 

 lands of the Union. Under present conditions a span of oxen cannot 

 make more than three journeys per month to Burghersdorp without 

 getting seriously knocked up. Thus it happens that not only is there 

 a minimum of good wheat land under cultivation, but, also, the 

 ploughing and harrowing that should be done during those months to 



