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Dynamite farming, or subsoiling, as it is called, was intro- 

 duced into this country during 1912 by the Cape Explosives 

 Works Ltd., of Somerset West, in a series of demonstrations in 

 the Western Province, followed by experiments at various cen- 

 tres throughout the country, in which the greatest interest was 

 manifested by farmers, many of whom at once proceeded to put 

 the system into practice. 



To-day dynamite is being used by farmers in all parts of 

 South Africa for a variety of purposes, such as tree-planting, pre- 

 paring ground for vines, lucerne and cereals, subsoiling existing 

 orchards, vineyards, and lucerne fields, ditch-making, removal of 

 stumps and boulders, dam-making, well-sinking, etc. Results 

 have everywhere proved most successful, especially in connection 

 with tree-planting, and to no branch of farming is the use of 

 dynamite proving of greater importance and benefit than to the 

 fruit-growing industry, where it is daily gaining in favour. 



The advantages of preparing holes for tree-planting with 

 dynamite are apparent to anyone who has witnessed the process. 

 The subsoil is broken up and loosened, enabling the roots to push 

 downwards and giving them a much greater feeding area. Many 

 trees fail to thrive in small, spade-dug holes, owing to an under- 

 lying hardpan or dense subsoil, which the roots are unable to 

 penetrate, with the result that the tree never gets a proper 

 anchorage. This condition can be corrected by dynamite, which 

 pulverises or loosens the soil within a radius of several feet. A 

 tree starting under these favourable circumstances has certainly 

 a great advantage, and is also better able to withstand a period 

 of drought, for dynamited soil absorbs large quantities of water, 

 which forms a reserve store of moisture against the dry season. 

 The cracks and fissures made in the ground by dynamite also 

 create better aeration, which aids nitrification and helps to in- 

 crease the general fertility of the soil. 



Agricultural or subsoil dynamite, it may be explained, is 

 made up in neat and compact cartridges, which can be handled 

 in perfect safety by any person of average intelligence, provided 

 a few simple directions are observed. It can be obtained in 

 several strengths to suit different soil conditions. 



The method usually adopted is to drill a hole on the spot on 

 which the tree is to be set ; into this hole one or more cartridges, 

 or plugs of dynamite, are lowered. The depth of the hole and 

 the number of cartridges to be used for a charge depend upon 

 the nature of the ground. According to South African experi- 

 ence two to three feet may be considered as the average depth, 

 and for this a single cartridge i j in. x 4 in.") of subsoil dynamite 

 is usually sufficient. When more than one is required, the car- 

 tridges are placed in the holes one on top of the other, each being 

 gently pushed home with a wooden stick or pole known as a 



