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extends across the Campbell Rand to the westward, and takes in part of 

 the plateau above, but the samples of soil examined were collected only 

 from the region of the shales, and on the bank of the river opposite to 

 that flanked by the Campbell Band. Even here, however, the influence 

 of the lime formation may be noticed in certain localities (for instance in 

 the Ganzepan and H.V.67 soils of the Barkly West Division), but for the 

 most part the soil is poor. 



The samples were collected by Dr. E. A. Nobbs, from grounds in- 

 tended to be irrigated by means of a system of furrows from a canal lead- 

 ing the water of the Harts River. The description of the soils collected 

 is compiled from the observations made by Dr. Nobbs on his tour. En- 

 tering the Taungs district from Barkly West, and leaving the long stretch 

 of poor sandy ground through which the railway passes, sample No. 2, a 

 fine and even dark grey loam, was collected on the farm Luxmore, on the 

 slopes of the Phokwani Hills. This soil, owing to the dry season, was in- 

 tensely hard, due to its fine compact texture, but not tough, and hence 

 probably friable when wet. No. 3 represents a similar soil, although of 

 somewhat looser texture, and was taken about 100 yards west of the 718th 

 railway mile post, on the farm Middle Park. It is a deep, very fine- 

 grained, and hence firm, sandy soil, of a whitish yellow colour on the sur- 

 face. The veld is Karroo-like in character, and the Ganna bush is notice- 

 able, but the entire area is not large, and appears to narrow down towards 

 the Harts River. Here and nowhere else a tendency towards brackishness 

 or alkalinity was observed. Three miles further north, however, the soil 

 changes to a fine-grained deep-yellow sand over forty feet deep (as seen at 

 the well at Railway Cottage 146). Of this soil on which the Mimosa 

 grows No. 4 is a type. Chemical analysis shows it to be very poor. No. 

 9, taken about five miles to the north-west, at Banksdrift, is quite different 

 in appearance, being a deep-red loamy sand of even consistency, and free 

 from stones, friable and easily worked, but of varying depth, and lying 

 upon shales and white sandstone; there is a very wide plain, apparently 

 of this character throughout. For irrigation purposes, the lie of the land 

 is ideal from this point, and over the farm Hartington; the chemical 

 results, however, show insufficient proportions of plant food. 



The farms to the south of Hartington, along the river, are generally 

 unsuitable for irrigation purposes. A shallow sandy soil, limestone shales, 

 sandstones, and occasionally intrusive dolerite, constitute the general 

 nature, while along the river a hard clay, resting directly on shale, with- 

 out any deep alluvial deposits, is found. A shallow soil occurs in the 

 low levels, a hard clay overlying horizontal shale beds, and valueless for 

 irrigation, although well covered with excellent natural grass. Such are 

 the conditions on the farms Greefdale, Springbokfontein, Putsfontein, 

 H.V.70, and probably also Klip Kopje, until the soil merges into that of 

 which Nos. 1 (in the above list) and 6 (of the Barkly West Division soils) 

 are types. No. 1 represents an even grained brown sand, typical of a 

 wide tract of country; the sample was taken near the 710th nlile post. 

 Nos. 5 .and 6 were taken, less than 100 yards apart, in the valley to the 

 north-east of Mogogong native village. This land is stated to have yielded 

 good crops of mealies and Kafir corn for many years. It is a red loam, 

 verging upon the alluvial soil commonly known as " vlei-grond " ; there 

 may be from 3,000 to 4,000 acres of this land, almost flat, and surrounded 

 on three sides by low hills. No. 5 is a rich-red sandy loam of considerable 

 depth, and No. 6 a tough dark-red alluvial soil. Chemically the latter is 

 far the better of the two. 



On the opposite of the railway line, and about four miles south-east 

 of Taunga railway station, Nos. 7 and 8 were collected, also near each 

 other; the former from a mealie patch, the latter from virgin or long 



