352 CHAPTER XXI 



ticable if started in favourable spots and allowed to spread by 

 natural as well as by artificial means. I planted seven Mes- 

 quite Bean trees about ten years ago and they are spreading all 

 over. ' ' 



Carob Tree {Ceratonia siliqua). — Indigenous to eastern 

 Mediterranean regions. Extremely drought-resistant, yielding 

 very nutritive pods. " Instances are on record of a tree yield- 

 ing nearly half a ton of pods in a season. The exportation of 

 the pods from Creta for cattle food is very large. In some of 

 of the Mediterranean countries horses, stable cattle and pigs 

 are almost exclusively fed on the pods. The meat of sheep and 

 pigs is greatly improved in flavour by this food, while its fat- 

 tening properties are twice those of oil-cake." — von Meuller. 



The high value of the Mesquite and Carob beans is shown 

 in the following analysis : — 



Protein. 



Mesquite 10' 3 



Carob 8"6 



Wheat bran 15'4 



The Mexican Aloe (Algave mexicana) is being extensively 

 cultivated by some progressive Karroo farmers. It is easily 

 propagated and has been found to furnish a heavy yield of fairly 

 nutritious fodder, readily eaten by cattle, sheep and ostriches. 

 The leaves are sliced up before feeding. 



To the writer the above trees and shrubs seem to be among 

 the best as a basis for experimental work. The following in- 

 digenous to South Africa are some of those known to be eaten 

 by stock, but, for various reasons, are not so suitable : — 



Kiepersol (Cussonia spicata), Zootdoorn {Acacia horrida), 

 Wild Olive (Olea verrucosa), Ilozyntjebos (Greicia can<7),Narra- 

 narra (Acanthosicyos horrida), Vaal Karroo (Phymaspermum 

 parvifolium) , Vaalbos (Tarchonanthus camphor atus) , Karre- 

 boom {Rhus virninalis), Draai-bossie {Aster filifolius), and Cape 

 Saltbush {A triplex capensis).^* 



Ordinary Crops Suited to Dry Land Farming. — Many 

 of these are croi'is having a low transpiration ratio, particularly 

 sorghums and millets, and crops which regulate their growth 

 until maturity on the available moisture — wheat, rye, oats and 

 em.mer are among the latter class of crops and should be grown 

 in parts of winter rainfall : the potato is probably one of the 

 best of these crops for dry-land fanning. 



