The Conquest of the Desert 



to merino sheep, from wine to wattles, and 

 from sisal hemp to sugar-cane. To recognise 

 these different zones is most important. And 

 it is here that costly mistakes have been made 

 in the past. Much money has been wasted in 

 trying to grow crops in districts for which they 

 were not suited. And so to the prospective 

 settler arises the pertinent question : " What 

 shall I farm ? for the crop I desire to grow 

 must determine the province or district in which 

 I shall reside." 



# 



And now as to State aid. Some time ago the 

 Prime Minister of New Zealand stated that his 

 Dominion spent on agriculture more per head 

 of population than any other country namely, 

 three shillings. I deemed it my duty to point 

 out politely that the Union, which is spending 

 per head of the European population eleven 

 shillings, is entitled to the premier place. The 

 aid given by the Government to the farmer may 

 be summed up under three heads : (1) The De- 

 partment of Agriculture, (2) The Land Bank, 

 and (3) The Land Settlement Act of 1912. The 

 Union Department of Agriculture, by means of 

 a large staff, with its headquarters in Pretoria, 

 and branches in each of the several provinces, 



194 



