THE DEVELOPMENT OF RHODESIA. 281 



Kongo Free State. The principal lodes, so far opened up, are on the 

 Kafue River and in the Lo Mogundi district. The deposits in North- 

 ern Rhodesia give every promise of a great mineralized field which 

 is being systematically developed. Several coal fields have also been 

 discovered. Chief among them is the vast coal field of Wanki, 

 which promises to be one of the most important discoveries in 

 Rhodesia. The coal is considered to be second only to the best Welsh. 

 Other minerals found in varying quantities are silver, blende, anti- 

 mony, arsenic, lead, and iron. 



Although gold and other mineral wealth promote the speedy de- 

 velopment of new territories, the i^ermanent prosperity of such a 

 country as Rhodesia must ultimately depend upon its pastoral and 

 agricultural resources. " Owing to its fertile soil," says Mv. Ross 

 Townsend, secretary for agriculture in the Rhodesia administration, 

 " regular wet season, ample rainfall, genial climate, and cheap land, 

 Rhodesia offers prospects for successful farming operations second 

 to none in South Africa, and comparing favorably with most British 

 colonies. The fertility and variety of soils are capable of producing 

 most kinds of cereals, tobacco, vegetables, and fruit wdiere energy and 

 enterprise are brought to bear on it, as has been practically demon- 

 strated in the different districts of the country." It is w^orthy of note 

 that, owing to the geological formation of the country, the best 

 arable land is usually situated within a reasonable distance of the 

 gold reefs. There is always a great demand for agricultural produce, 

 at remunerative prices, at Bulawayo, Salisbury, and Selukwe. It is 

 estimated that in Matabeleland alone there are 50,000 square miles 

 available for pasture and arable land, and of this about 6,000 square 

 miles are suitable, Avithout much preliminary Avork, for European 

 cultivation. The size of farms in Mashonaland is generally about 

 1,500 morgen (approximately 3,000 acres). Matabeleland farms are 

 about twice the size. Rhodesia offers attractive prospects to the man 

 of energy and enterprise who has a knowledge of agriculture and a 

 caj)ital of £500 to £1,000. Mealies — maize or Indian corn — is the 

 staple cereal product and can be made to produce as heavy a yield 

 as in any other part of the world. The demand is practically un- 

 limited, not only for local markets, but throughout South Africa. 

 AVlieat grows well and yields abundantly in many parts of the 

 country. Samples of Rhodesian wheat have been well received on 

 the British corn market. Root crops of all kinds do remarkably 

 well and yield heavily, especially potatoes. Cattle generally do well 

 everywhere. Sheep and goats — Cape Boer goats, Persian sheep, and 

 the Cape fat-tailed sheep — thrive well all over Rhodesia and the 

 increase is rapid. The merino sheep is found to do well in the eastern 

 highlands, where a million sheep could be grazed without overstock- 

 SM 1905 22 



