Southern Africa, the land and its peoples . c present in South Africa only to a limited extent. Hood irrigation is not commonly practised. Over limitedareas the system is employed m the district between Fraserburg and Caivinia, watered by the Zak and Fish Rivers, and in the districts of Kenhardt, Cradock, and Somerset Streams in these areas arc allowed to overllow the SUTTOUnding agricultural land: low embankments are built to retain the flood-water,which if sufficiently abundant may he released after a tew days to irrigate lands further down-stream. The system is BOmetin known as saai
Southern Africa, the land and its peoples . c present in South Africa only to a limited extent. Hood irrigation is not commonly practised. Over limitedareas the system is employed m the district between Fraserburg and Caivinia, watered by the Zak and Fish Rivers, and in the districts of Kenhardt, Cradock, and Somerset Streams in these areas arc allowed to overllow the SUTTOUnding agricultural land: low embankments are built to retain the flood-water,which if sufficiently abundant may he released after a tew days to irrigate lands further down-stream. The system is BOmetin known as saaidam irrigation : the irrigated plots are called 96 SOUTHERN AFRICA BOaidamme. These plots are sown, usually With wheat, barley, or Lucerne, immediately the Hood waters subside or arc irrigation has its disadvantages and limitations. A year may pass without a river once coming down in Hood ; again, the cultivation of certain crops, , citrus, requires not merely one Hooding, but regular irrigation throughout a long Photo.] [ Publicity , Britstowtn. C. Irrigation by the diversion of streams. This type of irrigationinvolves the construction of a netword of canals and furrows,by which the water of a river is diverted over the adjacent lands ;the system is widely practised throughout the world. In SouthAfrica, however, streams have frequently cut valleys that are somuch below the level of the surrounding country that in suchcases diversion schemes are not practicable. They occur in greatestnumber along the valleys of the Breede, Olifants, and Great FishRivers, and between Upington and Kakamas on the OrangeRiver ; but since diversion, like flood irrigation, is dependentupon seasonal conditions, it is rapidly being superseded by schemesbased upon conservation, or storage. D. Perennial irrigation, by the construction of conservationworks. This is the most successful form of irrigation now employedin South Africa. Owing to the great
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