j"()Ri:sT ri«)(;Ki:ss i x iiii-: dkaki'.n'siskkc. iHi 



ridges sciiaraliuj;- the nuuKMOus streams arisinjr on the slopes 

 of the Berg arc not usuall\- covered w ith forest. 



Isolated patches of forest are also met with in the open 

 i^rass land, away from krantze> or i)recipitotis <^round. 



llrowing in the veld, and thinly dotted a1)oiit. are Proteas, 

 i'ltssonias. Crcyia Sulherlandi and Crlaslnis bii.vlfoliiis. lirica 

 sp.. and Lcucos'uica scricca shrnhs. 



All the indications seem to show that tmtil comparativelv re- 

 cent times grass with Profca was the principal vegetation, and 

 that the close forest type of trees and shrubs is more recent in 

 origin, and is taking possession of the localities possessing more 

 favourable conditions for their growth and development, luuuely, 

 those at the foot of krantzes and in the kloofs where there i.s 

 perennial water, deeper soil, and offering more protection from 

 insolation, from wind and grass fires. The general shape of the 

 forest patclies indicate a gradual s])read downwards along the 

 valleys and stream banks, and laterally up the slopes of the divid- 

 ing ridges, wherever soil conditions are sufficiently favourable. 

 Towards the mountain top spread is ])revented by krantzes, ab- 

 sence of sufficient soil, and ex])osure to unfavourable climatic 

 conditions. 



The slopes of the ridyes having a northern or western as- 

 pect, invariably have less forest or no forest at all. Where 

 forest is met with on such aspects, it is apparently making less 

 progress tlian on the eastern or southern aspects. 



\\Mthin the forest there is, as a rule, excellent natural re- 

 generation, having all species growing in the forest fairly well 

 represented, but with Podocarpus Tluiiibcrgii. Myrsine mclano- 

 phleos and OIi)iia cyinosa dominating. The forest floor is 

 usually covered witli humus, and in places there is abundant 

 ground herbage, such as ferns and bush grasses, mixed with the 

 seedlings of forest trees, which prevent any erosion taking place. 

 In some instances the patches of forest consist of narrow 

 s:rips along the foot of precipitous ground or krantzes. 



Much of the forest at i:)resent is of little value for actuai 

 timber production, by reason of the shallow soil, etc., but is of 

 great importance in water conservation, the prevention of soil 

 erosion and torrents, and incidentally affording protection for 

 stock during cold weather. 



It was particularly noticeable, though the practice obtains 

 of regularly burning the veld, that there was no serious destruc- 

 tion of, or injury to forest resulting from fire. This may be that 

 the grass is burnt early in winter, and the forests, situated as 

 they are in the more sheltered places, are comparatively moist, 

 and the grass along their perimeters green, whereas on the ridges 

 having shallow soil it is dry and parched. 



From numerous enquiries made from old residents, it was 

 ascertained that the general opinion prevailed that the existing 

 Berg forests, notwithstanding occasional damage by fire and 

 other causes, were slowlv but surely increasing in size, and that 



