12 CHAPTER II 



West of the •20-inch isoheyt farmers are wisely paying more 

 attention to fodder crops, except on irrigated land, where the 

 winter cereals are still commonly grown. Even on this irri- 

 gated land there is evidence that lucerne will take the place of 

 wheat and oats where soil conditions allow. A number are 

 also recognising the necessity of growing fodder trees and 

 shrubs, such as the saltbushes and spineless cactus, where 

 climatic conditions are too uncongenial even for the drought- 

 resistant fodder crops, e.g., millets, Sudan grass, etc. 



In the south-west Cape, where the rainfall is a wintry one 

 and fairly high, the winter cereals, vetches, field peas and other 

 winter crops are being grown. It is likely that in this region 

 dairy farming will become a more prominent feature , as already 

 the poor sandy soils are fast becoming unproductive, owing to 

 the policy of growing grain for sale, instead of growing grain 

 and fodder for stock on the farms. The latter policy will con- 

 serve the plant food, in that the manure of the animals will be 

 applied to the lands. Where the grain is sold, naturally the 

 land is severely drained of plant food, since the valuable ele- 

 ments in the grain are not returned to the fields from which 

 the crops are taken. 



In the south-eastern Cape, where the rainfall is a constant 

 one, but for the greater part insufficient and too uncertain for 

 summer or winter crops without irrigation, farmers are giving 

 their attention more to the production of fodders than cereals. 



On irrigated land in the Union both summer and winter 

 crops are grown, and among the more progressive farmers the 

 tendency is to grow fodder crops, if possible lucerne. While 

 the possibilities for successful irrigation in the Union, 

 especially in the lowveld, are undoubtedly immense, at the same 

 time the pitfalls are numerous, and, before embarking upon 

 this type of agriculture, the uninitiated should obtain full in- 

 formation in regard to the suitability of soils, alkali and silt. A 

 wise policy is to stimulate individual enterprise rather than 

 spectacular irrigation schemes, on which too much capital is 

 often expended. 



Hail and Snow. — Hail is of considerable severity in some 

 parts, particularly in the middle districts of Natal, in the south- 

 eastern Transvaal, eastern Free State, and in Kaffraria. While 

 fruit growers are the chief sufferers from hail in the parts men- 

 tioned, it is also a serious factor to the grain grower. In the 

 eastern Free State, where wheat and oats are sometimes exten- 

 sively grown on dry lands, these crops mature in November 



