156 THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



posed canning factory, which it is hoped Avdll afford a market 

 for a class of stock not suitable for the fresh meat trade. For 

 the first time in history, a consignment of frozen beef from 

 Rhodesia has been sent to England, and elicited most encour- 

 aging reports from Smithfield. 



The need of pun-bred stock to improve the native and grade 

 cattle continues to be one of the most pressing wants, and re- 

 quirements are still verj- far from being met in this direction. 



The number of dipping tanks is now close upon 1000, and 

 there is every probability of many more being erected in the 

 immediate future. The Compulsory Dipping Ordinance, 

 although its amendment has been freely discussd and is pro- 

 jected, has been widely adopted, till at the close of 1917 it was 

 actually applied to 78 per cent, of the farms in the country, and 

 was in course of adoption over a further 20 per cent. 



As an instance of how the introduction of good sires to the 

 native herds of a country improves their condition, a few years 

 ago in Southern Rhodesia it was almost impossible to find a 

 native bullock weighing over 550 lbs. dressed weight at five or six 

 years old. Now, however, it is quite common to find three-year- 

 old steers by a good bull, out of native cows, killing at 700 lbs. 

 Halfbreds have enormously increased in number, and bulls con- 

 tinue to arrive by every steamer from the home land. Probalily 

 there is no country in the world which at present offers such 

 good prospects for the increase and improvement of cattle. It 

 would be a good plan to at once cross the native stock Avith 

 carefully selected Africander bulls, and get size and hardness 

 into the herds, then cross the improved stock with the progeny 

 of imported purebred stock, and be careful in choosing these 

 sires. A friend who is ranching there now says: "I consider 

 there is no country in the world to-day that offers such good 

 prospects for the ranching companies who are prepared to de- 

 velop the land as Rhodesia. For the small man who can take 

 up 3000 to 10,000 acres, his capital should be invested in stock 

 and windmills. Fencing can always be erected later. . . . 

 Do not put useless native boys on herding stock ; employ the best 

 boy you have on the farm. Teach him his duties, and do not 

 let him keep the cattle in a bunch, as one so often sees. Do not 

 kraal at night if you can possibly help it. I am afraid that on 

 a great many farms cattle are driven miles to water and good 

 grazing, only to be brought back over the same long tramp at 

 night to be shut up until the followdng morning. Remember, 

 cattle do not stray naturally, but only in search of food. Let 



