198 



British Produce for South Africa. 



all growers is to find a seed wheat which will withstand rust. 

 The Cape Government is at the present time importing " Rietti " 

 seed wheat. It is a dark wheat, gives good results and, so far, 

 has withstood rust. If it continues to be successful the western 

 province will again become a great wheat producing district. 

 Quite lately two shipments of seed wheat have been brought 

 from Great Britain to Cape Colony, although some persons 

 feared they would prove too soft. Rye Seed is imported from 

 France, Germany, and Great Britain. This crop is used for 

 feeding horses and mules. Seed Oats are imported from 

 Australia, and give excellent results. The seed was originally 

 sent to Australia from Algeria. Barley is grown from local 

 seed. Lucerne seed comes from Germany and from Great 

 Britain, and succeeds admirably in a few districts, yielding 

 three and four crops a year. With irrigation it would become 

 one of the largest feeding products of South Africa. Grass 

 Seeds will sell well in certain districts when irrigation is more 

 extensively adopted. 



South African farmers have not yet been educated to such 

 crops as swedes and beetroot, but they will come to them in time. 

 They are very conservative, and it is difficult to persuade them 

 to try anything new. They feed their cows on bran and chaff, 

 their horses on Colonial forage, such as oat hay — never on beans 

 or oats. They are only just beginning to make use of oil cake. 



It is important to note that 20 per cent, is deducted from the 

 railway rates quoted upon imported seeds for the Transvaal, 

 provided that a certificate properly endorsed is furnished to the 

 effect that the consignment is bena-fide seed for agricultural 

 purposes. 



Hops and Malt. 



Hops are imported mainly from Great Britain and Bavaria, 

 but the bulk of the imports come from Great Britain, and the 

 same remark applies to malt. This is a trade which may be 

 expected to grow considerably. 



Cheese. 



There is already a considerable sale for English cheese, but it 

 is confined to the better class trade. Cheddar and Stilton are 



