SOUTH AFRICA 173 



second half of the year is always the busiest shipping season. 

 The South African farmers are making big strides, and are doing 

 all they possibly can to put the industry on a firm basis. Cer- 

 tainly, an industry which is already bringing in over £300,000 

 a year is one which is bound to receive encouragement. There 

 is so much refrigerated produce now sent away from South 

 Africa that the cold storage facilities at the ports are quite 

 inadequate. The stores are often full up, owing to the shortage 

 of tonnage. 



Everything points to the beef export trade of South 

 Africa being a huge thing within a few years. For the past 

 two or three years, farmers have been repeatedly urged by the 

 ■Government experts ^nd other authorities to improve their 

 cattle, and to direct proper attention to the question of feeding. 

 This advice has not fallen on deaf ears, for there is already a 

 very noticeable improvement in both directions. Again, 



farmers now comprehend the wisdom of the dipping practice, 

 and losses to-day are almost negligible as compared with those 

 of a few years back. The potentialities of the Union in this 

 direction have impressed many, and adequate preparations are 

 being made to deal vnth the future herds of the farmer. Four 

 huge cold storage works and abattoirs are being erected at 

 Dui^ban, and the Government is extending the Congella wharf by 

 about two miles. Similar works are being erected at Port 



Elizabeth, Lorenzo-IMarques, and several inland centres. The 



capacity of each of the coastal works will be such that will 

 enable the companies to export throughout the year, the idea 

 being to purchase almost entirely during the summer and 

 autumn months. 



The following description of a South African cattle property, 

 by the principal of the School of Agriculture, Cedara, will be 

 •of interest : — 



"This property, comprising some 100,000 acres of dry sand 

 country, is near Ma f eking, and the herd is a monument to 

 the adaptability of the Shorthorn, and also of his pre- 

 potency and impressiveness as a sire. That other of the 

 improved breeds might have done equally well is not denied ; but 

 in this case, the Shorthorn was the improved type used. It is 

 proposed to give details in regard to this successful herd, and 

 to show what is so apparent, viz., that the continual use of highly- 

 bred bulls of sound constitution and excellent stamp has 

 increased the value per head of the cattle considerably, whilst 

 turning out an annual surplus of animals of the butcher type, 



