53o MAIZE 



chap. 505. Transvaal ami Orange Free State Shipments. — As 



XIL South African maize was from the start particularly well received 

 on the London and continental markets, and favourably com- 

 mented on in market reports, the demand soon exceeded the 

 supply, and Durban merchants began to look to the Orange 

 River Colony and the Transvaal for supplementary cargoes. 

 From May, 1907, and onwards, they were able to obtain con- 

 siderable quantities of the small round yellow and white 

 Basutoland maize. 



In July, 1907, the Johannesburg correspondent of the 

 Natal Witness reported that there was a movement on foot 

 to export from the Transvaal some 100,000 muids of maize 

 during the current season. 1 



The Johannesburg correspondent of the Natal Witness, 

 writing on 27 November, 1907, according to the Natal Agri- 

 cultural Journal," stated : — 



" The Transvaal Government is so greatly impressed with 

 the success of the Natal mealie exportation experiment that 

 they intend to make a special effort to establish a big mealie 

 growing industry in this colony. A million sterling is to be 

 spent in settling white men on land which is suitable for 

 mealies, on lines similar to the tin-mining scheme at Potgie- 

 tersrust — that is, on a profit-sharing basis. The men will be 

 given ground which, if they care to work hard, will eventually 

 become their own. They will be supplied with provisions and 

 tools, and Government steam ploughs will break up the land 

 for them. Arrangements are being made with Delagoa Bay 

 to provide shipping facilities enabling sailing vessels to take 

 grain in bulk (thus saving the cost of bagging), and a uniform 

 railway rate from all parts of the Transvaal will be charged. 

 Hence, farmers living at a great distance from the port will be 

 able to make the same profits on their grain as those nearer 

 the line. The new land settlement scheme will, it is stated, 

 be commenced next year, thus enabling settlers to sow their 

 first crops next spring. It is believed that hundreds of men, 

 who are unable to find work, will be glad of this opportunity 

 of becoming successful farmers. Those who are prepared to 

 work hard will be able, under ordinary circumstances, to make 

 a good living, as mealies can be grown in almost every part of 

 the Transvaal, and millions of acres of virgin soil are available." 



1 N.A.J., Vol. X, No. 8, Aug., 1907, p. 833. 

 -Vol. X, No. 12, p. 1467. 



