SOUTH AFRICA 243 



over those of 1915, when the total export of meat from South 

 Africa amounted to 6,056,435 lbs., valued at £107,362. Eng- 

 land took 5,095,000 lbs., of the value of £86,000. Complete 

 figures for 1917 are not available, but the total export of beef 

 up to 30th June amounted to 91,263 quarters, this quantity 

 including the Government contracts. The 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. Certainly an industry 

 which is already bringing in over £300,000 a year is one which 

 is bound to receive encouragement. There is so much re- 

 frigerated 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 Govern- 

 ment experts and 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 with the future herds of the farmer. Four 

 huge cold storage works and abattoirs are being erected at 

 Durban, and the Government is extending the Congella wharf 

 by about two miles. Similar works are being erected at Port 

 Elizabeth, and at several inland centres ; also at Lorenzo 

 Marques in Portuguese territory. The capacity of the coastal 

 works will be such as 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 pro- 

 perty, by the principal of the School of Agriculture, Cedara, 

 Natal, will be of interest : — 



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

 country, is near Maf eking, and the herd is a monument to the 



