SOUTH AFRICA 251 



SCOURED WOOL 



Destination. 

 United Kingdom 

 Canada 



United States of America 

 Japan 



Total 



Average price per scoured lb., 39-93d. 



Total grease and scoured in bales of grease, 265,080 bales. 



In wool production, therefore. South Africa has made great 

 strides, and the limit of expansion has not yet been reached. 

 The writer visited the country about seven years ago, and it 

 was comparatively easy to note the scope for development of 

 the wool industry. There was, at that time, a remarkably 

 keen interest in sheep, especially the Merino, and there were 

 many fine stud flocks, and millions of pure wool-bearing sheep. 

 But. at the same time one could not look upon the vast extent 

 of unfenced veld without wondering how much fencing wire 

 and subdivision would add to the carrying capacity. 



One could not notice the numerous flocks of goats, Per- 

 sian sheep, and bastard sheep, without picturing the state of 

 affairs when these nondescript flocks are replaced by pure- 

 woolled sheep. 



Then the necessity for draining swamps, and providing pure 

 sources of water supply, planting trees for shelter purposes, 

 and grazing flocks within fenced areas, instead of shepherding 

 them all day and kraaling them at night, were being realised 

 by progressive sheepfarmers. Another factor most noticeable 

 was the splendid efforts on the part of the South African 

 Government to develop the sheep and wool industry. Experi- 

 mental farms and colleges were established throughout the 

 Union. The services of capable experts were at the disposal of 

 sheep-owners, and behind it all was a magnificent laboratory 

 of research conducted by Sir Arnold Theiler, devoted to assist- 

 ing stock-owners in combating the numerous and deadly 

 diseases that affect live-stock in South Africa. 



All these facts have counted in the development of the sheep 

 and wool industry in South Africa, but another factor might 

 well be mentioned. 



After the smoke of the Boer War had cleared away, the 



