Annual report on Basutoland / Colonial Office.

  • Great Britain. Office of Commonwealth Relations.
Date:
[1948]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Basutoland / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    elude a large proportion of virgin lands which are actually marked out by the owners. This was done at no additional cost, apart from the demonstrators' time. The cost of setting out these 16,341,056 yards of strips was £3,318-6-8d. or 1.7/- per acre. In some areas the strips have completely grassed over and are indeed acting as buffers for spreading flood water and holding silt, but in many valleys the results are still disappointing. In spite of seeding trials with various species of indigenous grasses these strips are still bare except for a little rescue grass and khaki bush. On certain slopes it is still necessary to re-mark the stripes each year before ploughing season begins, otherwise the occupiers would plough them out. Mountain Diversion Furrows (Training Banks): There has been a slight falling off in this work due to the fact that in some Districts the people would not take on the work at the rates laid down for standard sizes of banks. It is now proposed to pay 25/- per 100 yards for a 6’ wide furrow, 20/- for 5’ and 15/- and 10/- per 100 yards for 4' and 3’ wide channels. Every furrow will be at a gradient not exceeding 1 in 25, as it was found that bad scouring took place on some soils where this gradient was exceeded. 488,887 yards of diversion furrows were dug, but it has been found to be impossible to survey the area actually protected. Check surveys have again been carried out, however, and it has been established that on the average 100 yards of furrow protect 4 acres of cultivated land. Last year it was worked out on a basis of 100 yards protecting 44 acres. Education: Lerothoii Technical School. The Hostel, which is the largest building in the scheme, has been brought up to first floor level. The European staff house and outbuildings have been completed, and the motor mechanics' garage is up to roof height. The completion of this building has been held up by a shortage of cement, which, however, is now available. General: The Educational Secretaries are doing valuable work in co-ordinating the educational work of the missions with the educational plans approved by Government.