TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION K. 593 
There is a considerable field still for the scientific photographer, and it is hoped 
that the Committee formed for the collection and registration of photographs will 
receive continued support. To the teacher and worker in Great Britain it will be 
of particular help to know what photographs of colonial plants and plant-associa- 
tions are extant, and from whom copies can be obtained. Inowledge of this kind 
the Committee is anxious to obtain and to circulate. 
2. Report on the Registration of Botanical Photographs. 
See Reports, p. 226. 
3. The Climate and Life-Zones of the Transvaal. 
By Josepu Burtr-Davy, F.L.S., FR.GS., FR. Met. Soc. 
Though situated between 22° and 28° south latitude, the climate of at least 
four-fifths of the Transvaal is not tropical, owing to its high altitude. The mean 
annual temperature is about 56°5° F. at the highest altitudes, rising in the ratio of 
about two degrees per thousand feet of descent, The climate is characterised by 
extremes of temperature, hot days and cold nights, with sharp winter frosts (23° 
of frost has been registered), It is a region of periodic drought, which lasts for 
about six months; the dry and the cold seasons are concurrent, so that there is 
only one dormant season. The mean annual rainfall is about 28 inches, but as 
the spring rains begin late in the season, and are very intermittent in character, 
the growing season is too short for many tropical crops. 
The main topographical features are a mountain range near the eastern border, 
only about 100 miles from the coast, rising to an altitude of about 8,000 feet, and 
a central plateau from 3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea-level. 
The differences in altitude produce differences in climate and vegetation. 
These appear to fall naturally into three zones :— 
1, The High Veld, ranging from 6,000 to 4,000 feet altitude. 
2. The Middle Veld, ,, pp 2,000)tonl 500). eee.. 
3. The Low Veld, iF » 1,500 to 600 ,, 
” 
The Low Veld is a dry, tropical savannah region, well wooded, and free from 
frost, except occasionally along the river bottoms, which will produce crops the 
year round where the lack of winter rain can be replaced by irrigation. It pro- 
duces the baobab, cassava, sugar-cane, cotton, tobacco, pearl millet, teosinte, 
avocado pear, custard apple, and, on the coast, the cocoanut. Hippopotami, 
crocodiles, lions, pythons, and maambas are characteristic animals. It is the home 
of the M’Sutu, Shagaan, and Zulu. It is an unhealthy region, owing to malarial 
and black-water fevers. East-coast tick-feyer and horse-sickness cause serious loss 
among stock. 
The High Veld is a treeless, grassy plateau, characterised by a short growing 
season, owing to late spring rains and early frosts in autumn, which prevent the 
cultivation of perennial tropical crops. Maize, Kaffir corn and potatoes, in 
summer; and wheat, barley and oats, in winter, under irrigation, are the staple 
crops; lucerne, sainfoin, and fescue grass do well; peaches are grown at every 
farmhouse ; apples, pears, cherries, and grapes do well in certain localities. It is 
a healthy region for human beings and stock; malarial fever, horse-sickness, and 
East-coast tick-fever are almost unknown. Merino sheep do well in the eastern 
districts and Persian sheep and Angora goats in the western. 
The Middle Veld is really intermediate between the other two zones. It is 
covered with acacia ‘ bush’ and low trees, with intervening open grassy places. It 
isin the main a good cattle country, but isat present infected with East-coast tick- 
fever. Persian sheep and Kaffir goats thrive, but merinos do not do so well. Some 
malarial fever occurs in certain districts, but as a rule it is a healthy region. ‘The 
rainfall is lower than on most of the High Veld. Sharp frosts occur in winter 
1905, 2g 
