149 



Crossing the line of railway, the next farm visited was Stinkfontein, 

 about nine miles from Karbonaatjes Kraal, and six from Triangle Station. 

 Here No. 29, an unmanured sandy clay, was taken from the orchard. 

 There is a rather broad patch of the same soil under cultivation, and it 

 has the reputation of being more fertile than any surrounding ground. 

 From a chemical point of view it undoubtedly proves to be the best soil 

 in the Field-cornetcy, and one of the best in the entire division, of all the 

 soils analysed. 



Ezeljacht, or Zout Rivier, was next touched at, and No. 30, a sample 

 of virgin soil, taken from the corner of some lands situated along the 

 road of! the farm, and about two miles from the previous farm. The nature 

 of the sour veld and soil is rather similar to that of No. 27, although 

 slightly better; it is, however, less fertile than No. 28. 



From the foregoing remarks, coupled with a reference to the table of 

 analyses below, the general conclusion may be drawn that, within a certain 

 area enclosed by lines "drawn parallel to the railway on either side of it, 

 between Triangle and T'ouws River Stations, the fertility of the soil in- 

 creases as one approaches the T'ouws River. The fertile patch at Stinkfon- 

 tein is an exception, and the surrounding soil is very poor. The geological 

 formation is that of the Bokkeveld series, but the farms are flanked on 

 either side by high sandstone mountain ranges. There is not much sowing 

 done at any of the four farms mentioned in connection with this section 

 of the division; they are subject to very severe frosts and cold, in conse- 

 quence of which fruit trees are not plentiful, as the fruit very rarely 

 grows to perfection. Four samples were taken to represent the Worcester 

 Field-cornetcy ; these were Nos. 18, 19, 20, and 21. No. 18 was taken 

 from the farm Hartebeest Rivier, and typifies a clayey soil about two feet 

 deep. Here both vines and oats are reported to do well. No. 19 waa 

 collected at Tweefontein, from one of the river terraces east of Worcester, 

 The recent gravels and Enon formation which prevail render the soil rather 

 coarse and sandy, but with grain it is stated to give good results, although 

 here as elsewhere, rust has been known to damage the crop very consider- 

 ably. As a rule, however, crops standing on this soil do not suffer from 

 rust. No. 20 is a stiff red " Karroo " soil from Zeekoegat, and is regarded 

 as suitable for vines. No. 21, on the other hand, taken from the opposite 

 extreme of the Field-cornetcy, at Wyzers Drift an area covered by the 

 above-named gravels is a sandy alluvial soil. Chemically it is very poor, 

 although said to answer fairly well when planted with vines. 



The soils of the Field-cornetcy Over Hex River are represented in 

 Noa. 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17. Sample No. 13 was taken on the farm Nonna 

 a black alluvial soil somewhat sandy typical of much of the soil 

 found along the Nonnas River. The subsoil is yellow and rather sandy, 

 but where deep it proves very suitable for fruit culture; grain also 

 appears to thrive on it. The farm Boven Kloppers Bosch is represented 

 by soil No. 14. The local opinion was that it is a very rich soil perhaps 

 too rich for oats, it was said. Vines and fruit trees, as well as barley, are 

 very successfully grown here. No. 15 is a sample of a dark fertile " vlei " 

 soil used as a vineyard on the farm Wilge Rivier. This soil, too, is con- 

 sidered rather rich for oats. At Nooitgedacht a somewhat sandy brown- 

 ish alluvial soil, No. 16, was taken, representing the third variety of soil 

 found in these parts; the first variety being the Karroo soil, and the 

 second, the dark " vlei " ground. At this place oats, wheat, vines, and 

 potatoes especially the latter are stated to thrive very well. The suc- 

 cessful culture of potatoes can be understood, as the soil is sufficiently 

 sandy for the purpose, and potash the kind of plant food most needed 

 by these tuberous plants predominates. No. 17 represents a brown soil, 



