L4 



result in action that will command the confidence and support of the 

 home builder, the man for whom we are all working."' 



I delivered the following messages, which were warmly received, 

 and at the request of the President of the Congress, the entire audience 

 rose and gave three hearty cheers for the Transvaal and the Empire. 

 Thereafter, I read a paper on " Dry-land Farming in the Transvaal," and 

 had the honour of being elected a Foreign Vice-President of the Congress 

 and Corresponding Secretary for South Africa. 



Chairman : 



His Excellency, Bryant B. Brooks, 



Governor of "Wyoming and President of the Dry-farming Congress. 

 Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, 



With your permission, I shall read three messages, which I have the 

 honour to lay before this Congress. 



The first is from General the Eight Hon. Louis Botha, P.C., M.L.A., 

 Prime Minister of the Transvaal and Minister of Agriculture. 



LETTERS. 

 No. 1. 



South African National Convention, Capetown. 



13th January, 1909. 



To the Delegates oe the Trans-Missouri Dry-farming Congress. 

 Gentlemen, 



I have instructed Dr. William Macdonald to convey to you on behalf 

 of the Government of the Transvaal our most cordial good wishes for the 

 success of your congress, and to assure you that the people of the Trans- 

 vaal will follow your deliberations with much interest. 



The scientific study and utilisation of the dry-lands are subjects of 

 the highest importance to the whole of South Africa, and the great 

 advances which have bee^L made in the United States of America have 

 encouraged us to hope tl >t the same results may be obtained in South 

 Africa. 



Believe me, 



Gentlemen. 

 Yours sincerely. 



Louis Botha, 

 Prime Minister of the Transvaal 



and Minister of Agriculture. 



The second message I have been requested to convey to you is from 

 His Excellency, the Earl of Selborne, P.C., Governor of the Transvaal 

 and High Commissioner for South Africa. 



No. II. 



High Commissioner's Train, De Aar, 



12th January, 1909. 



Dear Dr. Macdonald, 



I think we have every reason to feel gratified for the kindness and 

 courtesy of the Secretary of the Department of State in inviting the 

 British Colonies in South Africa to take pari in the Dry-farming Congress. 



