Now a farm is a large stretch of land which belongs to one man, who
uses it either to grow food in the ground, or else to raise large
herds of cattle, or horses, or sheep. In a civilized country people
cannot grow their own food, because they are busy all day with some
other trade. So some people make it their work to grow large
quantities of food, and sell all they do not need themselves. Cattle
are kept for their milk, which all Europeans drink. The flesh of
cattle and sheep is used for food. The skins of cattle and horses are
dried and made into leather for shoes and harness. Cattle and horses
are also used to draw heavy carts and ploughs, and for riding long
distances. A plough is a machine used to break up the ground ready
for sowing seed. It is quicker and better than a hoe. Sheep are used
as meat, and are kept especially for their wool. This is sheared or
cut off every year, and is washed and spun and then woven into cloth.
Woollen cloth is much warmer and stronger than cotton, and in cooler
countries where Europeans can live people always need warm clothes
some months in the year, because the sun is low down in the sky, not
overhead, and the air is cold. It is quite easy to see how useful
cattle and horses and sheep are in South Africa, and why some people
work to rear large herds.
On other farms where food is grown, some plant wheat or maize for
people to eat; some plant food for cattle to eat. But a great many
farms grow maize, as this grows better than other grains in South
Africa. Some parts of this country have great plains or low rolling
hills covered with short grass as far as you can see. This kind of
land is called the "veldt." In other places there are dry, dusty
plains. Everywhere there are hills formed of great mounds of huge
stones. These are called "kopjes." For many months in the year there
is no rain, and the country becomes dusty and the smaller rivers dry
up; then at last the rain comes and the rivers are filled up with
water, and the whole land is covered with grass and flowers. If at
times the rain is very late in coming, often whole farms are ruined
because the crops wither, or the cattle die, for want of water.