Orange Free State

ORANGE FREE STATE, an inland province of the Union of South Africa. It is divided from Natal by the Drakenberg, from Basutoland by the Caledon river, from the Transvaal by the Vaal river and from the Cape of Good Hope by the Orange river, and in the west by a line drawn across the veld from the Orange to the Vaal. It lies between 3o' and 4o' S. and between 1o' and 4o' E. Its area is 49,647 sq. miles.

The country forms part of the inner plateau of South Africa, and most of it lies between 4,000 and 5,000 ft. above sea level.

From the mountainous, eastern districts it slopes gradually west ward, no natural boundary marking its western frontier. The aspect of the country is that of vast, undulating, treeless plains, with a certain number of willows and thorn trees along the streams.

The latter were formerly more widely spread, but have nearly all been cut down for fuel. The Australian black wattle, gums and the pepper tree have been successfully introduced and are grown along the streets of the towns, and in plantations on farms, especially in the eastern districts, to provide shelter, poles and firewood. The general level of the surface is broken by low ridges, and isolated table mountains, the latter attaining considerable elevation above the plain. They are particularly numerous and well developed in the east, and are due to the outcrop of beds of sandstones and dolerites. The rivers, except the Orange, Vaal and Caledon, are dry or nearly dry, for three or four months dur ing the dry winter season, but after rain even the small spruits may become raging torrents. (For geology, climate, flora and fauna, see SOUTH AFRICA, UNION OF.) Population.—In 1931 the white population numbered 205,375. The corresponding figures are not available for others than the European elements, but in 1921 their numbers amounted to 421, 306 natives, 395 Asiatics and 17,898 mixed and others. The largest element among the natives is probably the Basuto, who are largely represented in the districts of Harrismith, Bethlehem, Ficksburg and Ladybrand. A considerable number of Barolong live in the districts of Thaba'nchu and Bloemfontein, and the Amazulu are well represented chiefly in the north-eastern area, adjoining Zulu land. Other tribes include Fingoes, Ama-xosa, etc. The popula

tion of the country as a whole, which amounts to 9.08% of the Union, and which has an average density of 12.67 per sq. m., is concentrated in the eastern and better-watered districts.

Towns.

These call for little comment. They are mostly small administrative and provisioning centres for their surrounding dis tricts. Only eight have a white population exceeding 2,00o and of these Bloemfontein, the capital, Kroonstad, Ladybrand and Ficksburg have been described in separate articles. Harrismith and Bethlehem are prosperous centres for the north-eastern dis tricts. The former, situated at the foot of the Plattberg, was formerly a military station and is a recognized resort for sufferers from chest diseases. Parys (whites [1931], 2,813; total [1921], 3,653) is situated on the Vaal river, and is developing as a pleasure resort. Jam making and fruit preserving are carried on and the town has spinning and weaving schools.

Agriculture and Pastoralism.

The Orange Free State is a healthy stock country. It is little affected by horse sickness and the number of horses in 1926 was 265,748. These probably in clude many ponies kept by natives. Cattle number 1,955,772 and are most numerous in the eastern districts, especially about Ficks burg. Sheep, totalling over io,000,000, are most abundant in the Rouxville, Wepener and Smithfield districts, while goats, which exceed 16o,000, are either kept largely by natives, or concentrated in the dry south-western area about Philippolis. Among the chief crops, maize takes first place, the districts of Heilbron and Frank furt forming part of the South African maize belt (q.v.). Toward the west the area sown with maize varies greatly from year to year, according to the incidence of the rains. The most fertile part of the country lies in the valley of the Caledon river. Here a consid erable quantity of wheat is grown, especially in the districts of Ladybrand, Ficksburg, Bethlehem and Rouxville. The same dis tricts and Harrismith also produce oat-hay. Here, too, there has been a considerable recent development of apple and plum orchards, the apples being among the best grown in South Africa. Potatoes, tobacco, pumpkins, etc., are also grown.