INTRODUCTION. 



Every few years some part of South Africa is visited by 

 prolonged periods of drought which bring with them severe 

 consequences to the farmer. Those who remember the 

 terrible results of droughts such as occurred in 1890 and 

 1897, not to mention the great drought we have just 

 experienced, will understand the extent to which we are 

 dependent on seasonable rains for any measure of agri- 

 cultural prosperity. Of course the natural remedy for 

 our untoward conditions in regard to uneven distribution, 

 throughout the years, of a scanty rainfall, is the storing 

 of water ; and it is good to have the testimony 

 of competent men that the possibilities of engineering 

 systems of irrigation in our sub-continent are great. 

 But the construction of reservoirs, canals and the boring 

 of holes, with the passing of the necessary legislation, 

 must needs take a long time, and we would be the last to 

 hurry unnecessarily those on whom it falls to perfect 

 those future sources of wealth, for we agree that such 

 schemes require thorough inquiry and deliberation before 

 they are put into execution. In addition to these periodical 

 droughts, the South African farmer has much to deter him 

 in making that progression of which we have heard so much 

 lately from the lips and pens of those, who, are only armed 

 with a limited knowledge of the many untoward conditions, 

 such as the great prevalence of animal and plant diseases, 

 the difficulty in obtaining labour, etc., under which we 

 struggle. Personally, we have long since come to the con- 

 clusion that the systems of farming pursued in the different 

 parts of the Colony are the best under the circumstances, 

 for they have been evolved by a shrewd, observant race of 

 men during generations of varied experiences. It would 

 require, then, a bold man who would come forward and 

 propose any great departure from the old custom, if the 

 conditions under which tho old ways had grown up had 

 remained the same, or had shown no sign of changing. But, 

 fortunately or shall we be tempted to say with some un- 



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