Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Basutoland.

Date:
[1935]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the social and economic progress of the people of Basutoland. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/40 (page 11)
    The planting of willows along the banks of the rivers and of trees which spread by runners (e.g. white poplar and robinia pseudacacia) will be encouraged for anti-soil erosion works, fire¬ wood and hut building. The natives in the north of the Territory have responded to the propaganda of the Department regarding tree planting and have planted more poplars than have natives in other parts of the country. Livestock. The year 1935 was notable for the many progressive measures which were initiated in respect of animal husbandry. These will be dealt with under the various headings. During the year, owing to favourable climatic conditions and abundance of grazing, all domesticated animals, with the exception of sheep and goats, have enjoyed excellent health. Sheep and Goats. The territory still enjoys freedom from scab and the Veterinary Department’s activities have been concentrated on sheep and wool improvement. This campaign has been rendered possible by the successful conclusion of the scab campaign and is aimed at producing more and better wool. The market for mohair still lacks stability and there has in conse- qence been little encouragement for either the Government or the producer to do much in the way of developing the industry. In regard to the production of more and better wool a great deal of work has been undertaken and a number of obstacles have been overcome. The effect of this work will be appreciated in later years, for it was based on the belief that to achieve success it was necessarv to improve both the type and the health of the sheep. For the former purpose the Government introduced 663 selected merino rams from prominent sheep breeders in the Union of South Africa. These rams were depastured on the Maseru Reserve for almost three months for acclimatisation purposes and will be available for distribution in January 1936. A census taken at the beginning of 1935 shows a decrease over the previous year of some 400,000 small stock. The census showed a total of 1,285,596 sheep and 432,230 goats in the territory. This decrease was due principally to internal parasites. A dosing cam¬ paign was inaugurated during the year and 259,367 small stock were dosed. The policy of voluntary dosing did not meet with as much success as was hoped, and the Government was forced to introduce legislation for the compulsory monthly dosing of small stock. This campaign will start early in 1936. During the year 3,718 undesirable rams were emasculated. The campaign to eliminate undesirable rams was successful chiefly owing to the whole-hearted support received from the Paramount Chief.