Sheep farming is important in the eastern part of the Cape Province, in the Orange Free State and the higher parts of the Transvaal. Sheep are to a large extent excluded by aridity from the western parts of the country, and by heat and diseases from the low parts of the Transvaal and Natal. The original type of sheep, which is still bred in considerable numbers, is the hairy long-eared, fat-tailed variety. Many English and Dutch breeds have been introduced, as well as merinos from Spain and Aus tralia. Goats thrive in regions, in which the pasture is too poor for sheep. They are bred largely in the Karroo and to a consider able extent in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal. Many of them are of the Angora type. The production of wool and mohair for 1925-26 is given in the table: The distribution of horses is somewhat the same as that of sheep. South Africa formerly exported horses to India, Australia, and Egypt, but horse sickness is a handicap. The disease breaks out in the moist season, and lasts from about Christmas until the first frosts. The lower areas suffer most severely. Basutoland, and the adjacent parts of the Orange Free State appear to be unaffected. The sickness with the decreased demand for horses has somewhat reduced horse-breeding.
The South African horses are related to the thoroughbred, and have a certain infusion of Arab blood. As a rule they are small, owing to insufficient feeding in winter and during times of drought. Heavy types are beginning to be used for draught purposes in the towns, and to some extent in the wine-growing districts. The mule is popular as a transport animal. It suffers from horse sickness, but to a less extent than the horse. It is largely used in Zululand, and in the south-west of the Cape Province, especially about Malmesbury. The ass was originally imported from the Cape Verde Islands. It is used for draught purposes, where the horse and the ox are debarred by disease, or lack of pasture. Ostrich farming was formerly a very profitable industry, centred about Oudtshoorn. It attained its greatest development in 1913 when there were 776,313 birds in the country. As a result of the Great War, and the change of fashions, the number had fallen in 1926 to 104,578.
Agriculture.—There is naturally a large variety of agricul tural productions in a country where the climate and topograph ical differences are so great. In the south-west of Cape Colony, an area of winter rain, the products are of the Mediterranean type, and include grapes, peaches, apricots, pears, citrus fruit, and wheat. (See CAPE COLONY.) Wheat is also grown in the eastern districts of the Orange Free State. In the sub-tropical coast-belt of Natal and Zululand, and in the northern Transvaal many sub tropical fruits are grown, such as pine-apples, papaws, bananas, mangoes, and much citrus fruit. The coast belt of Natal is almost
entirely devoted to sugar plantations. Some tea is grown along the north coast of Natal. Tobacco is cultivated in the Transvaal, in the Rustenburg, Megaliesberg and Piet Retief districts, and in Cape Colony about Oudtshoorn, Swellendam, Stellenbosch, and the Paarl. The staple grain crop is maize, which is grown widely in the country. Gradually, however, there has come to be defined a maize area, in which rain falls in sufficient quantity, at the proper time, and in showers of the requisite intensity. This area embraces part of the southern Transvaal and much of the Orange Free State, excepting the dry, south-western region.
The annual production of maize varies with the seasons. In the year 1924-25 the total production was 4,859,116,00o lb.; the fol lowing year it was 2,183,983,000 lb. Kafir corn (sorghum) is a potential forage and grain crop in areas where the rainfall is too uncertain for maize. It is the favourite grain of the native culti vator, and is used in the brewing of native beer. The grain is also being used as a food for cattle and poultry. In 1925 the total production was 487,305,000 lb. This fell in 1926 to 150,548, 000 lb. (See also NATAL, TRANSVAAL and ORANGE FREE STATE.) Conditions do not appear to be favourable to irrigation. The flow of the rivers is very variable and many river channels have been cut well down below the level of the surrounding country. There are, however, several irrigation schemes in existence, as for example the Hartebeestpoort, about 25 m. west of Pretoria, in con nection with which there are about 40,000 ac. of irrigable land, Lake Mentz (Sunday's river) 38,000 ac., Tarka (tributary of Great Fish river) 35,00o ac., Kamanassie river 27,00o acres, Grass Ridge (Great Brak river) 20,000 ac., etc.
Industries.—The South African customs are of a protective character, but rebates of duties are granted in favour of Great Britain and those parts of the empire, such as Canada and New Zealand, which have afforded reciprocal treatment. By an ar rangement with Portuguese East Africa and the Transvaal the products of the soil of both territories may be freely exchanged; and goods may be imported to or exported from the Transvaal by way of Portuguese East Africa under practically the same condi tions as obtain in the Union ports. Under an agreement of 1925 Northern and Southern Rhodesia consent to apply the scale of customs operative in the Union, reserving the right to continue certain rebates on British empire goods. Agreement was also made for the free exchange of the products and manufactures of the three parties, subject to certain restrictions on potable spirits, tobacco, beef and cattle. The agreement was not to apply to that part of Northern Rhodesia which falls in the Congo basin.