Zambezia (1977), 5 (ii).RESEARCH REPORTFARM HOUSES AND GARDENS IN THE MAZOE VALLEYMY INTEREST IN the Mazoe Valley comes not only from having resided therebut also from its actual and potential agricultural production. It was occupiedby European farmers at an early date, with the result that there are records offarming endeavour, illustrating the changes which have taken place, sincethe turn of the century. The following report is one of a series dealing withagricultural land use in the Valley, and was part of a larger study of croprotations, siting of buildings and water supplies by an agricultural student,M. H. Buttress, who visited each farm and also made a few enquiries aboutthe house and garden.'A farm house is unique because in addition to being a home it is thecentral pivot around which the business of farming is carried out during theday and often well into the night. The siting of the house, its construction,size, maintenance and garden is often a measure of the production of theland and the well-being of the occupants. There are no recent studies offarm houses in the Valley, and in view of the forthcoming political changesthat may close an era of three generations of farming, the following reportis made for the record.Early European settlers in Rhodesia were faced with the near certaintyof being struck down with malaria, particularly in the Mazoe Valley wheredeaths from black water fever were an all too common occurrence as isrevealed in the first Minute Book of the local Farmers' Association.2 Govern-ment sought to minimize the risk by offering advice on the construction ofa suitable dwelling comprising a wood frame clad in galvanized iron erectedon wooden blocks with an open stoep on three sides with mosquito screensover the windows. A photograph of such a house surrounded by bare earthand devoid of flowers, shrubs and shade appeared in an early issue of TheRhodesia Agricultural Journal, together with recommendations on how toavoid malaria.3 Five years later the Director of Agriculture in describing1 H. M. Buttress, 'Agricultural land-use in the Mazoe Valley during the period1966-1971% Tho Rhodesia Agricultural Journal (1973), 70, 105-6; A. G. Davis, 'Agri-cultural land-use in the Mazoe Valley', ibid. (1974), 71, 149-55; 'Agricultural land-usein the Mazoe Valley : Land capability classification', ibid. (1976), 73, 65-71; 'Maizeproduction in the Mazoe Valley', ibid., 161-8; A. G. Davis and G, P. Y. Clarke, Agri-cultural land-use in the Mazoe Valley : Spatial distribution and water supplies', ibid.(1978), 75, 15-20; see also my forthcoming paper, 'Cotton Production in the MazoeValley'.2 National Archives of Rhodesia, Historical Manuscripts Collection, MA4/1/1(Mazoe Farmers' Association: Minute Books: 16 Oct. 1904- 11 Aug. 1915).s 'The Gravesend Estate' The Rhodesian Agricultural Journal (1904-5), 2, facing118; The Medical Director, 'Malaria', ibid., 131-9.169170FARM HOUSES AND GARDENS IN THE MAZOE VALLEYthe farming scene in the Valley contrasted the 'excellent dwelling houses'with the 'huts and ramshackle makeshifts [that] are too prevalent, and[where] the mosquito is often given free play'.4 In the late 1920s the situationwas little improved, as is vividly described by Hylda Richards.5 Even ac-commodation provided by Government for the doctor in Bindura during thatperiod was minimal with three rooms, separate kitchen, no bathroom andwater arriving by donkey cart.6 Government found it necessary to issue afurther set of three plans, ranging from the simple rondavel with separatekitchen and bathroom, to that of a five-roomed brick house including bath-room, kitchen and pantry all under an iron roof, facing north and with flyscreens on the windows.7Old photographs illustrating farming scenes in the early decades confirmthat the farm house usually comprised one or more rondavels under thatch,or, more rarely, a single-storey brick structure under iron with an open stoep.Floors were of earth or cement covered with mats while less commonly theywere planks or boards raised well above the ground. Damage and destruc-tion of wood including furniture was rife despite the constant inspection andtreatment of door and window frames with paraffin. For farmers returningfrom rare holidays it was not uncommon to find the door handle comingaway from the front door, which fell in pieces, or an ant hill in the livingroom. Hot water was provided from a petrol drum over a wood fire stokedby the garden servant every eveningŠa method still widely used. Farmhouses near a mine might have electricity, but otherwise paraffin lamps andcandles served for many years.Over the years many of the original farm houses have been replaced bylarger and more substantial buildings or extensions have been made to theoriginal structures; and owing to subdivision of farms, additional houseshave been built. Today's new farm houses built in the Valley are providedwith an ant course in the footings of the walls, metal frames for doors andwindows, treated timbers in the roof, wood-block floors or tiles on concrete,together with all the fittings of a town house.In the summer of 1970-1 a survey was made of 100 of the 286 farm housesin the Intensive Conservation Areas of Barwick, Marodzi-Tatagura, Glen-dale and Bindura;8 owing to the absence of 13 ladies of the house, informationwas obtained on only 87 houses.In terms of age these houses fall into four groups by date of erection:(i) in the early days before the First World War;(ii) between the two wars, 1919-39;(iii) in the immediate post-war decade, 1945-55;(iv) during the following fourteen years, 1956-71.* E. A. Nobbs, 'Farms and farming in Rhodesia. The Mazoe District', ibid. (1910-11), 8, 46-7.s H. M. Richards, Next Year Will Be Better (Cape Town, Timmins, 1952).e Mrs R. M. Morris, 'Bindura in the twenties', Rhodesiana (March 1977), 36, 66-7.7 H. Roberts, 'Farm homesteads', The Rhodesian Agricultural Journal (1927), 24671-7, 779-84, 881-5.e R. C. Hannington, Mazoe Valley Agricultural Survey (Salisbury, Govt Printerfor Min. of Agriculture, 1972).A. G. DAVIS171We were not able to ascertain which was the oldest house nor the precisedate of its construction. This arises out of the fact that stones giving thedate of building rarely if ever exist, neither over the door nor in a cornerof the foundations. Even now there are no statutory regulations nor recordsof the plans of new houses in the Valley, with the result that dating of farmhouses erected since the Second World War is known only by the presentfamily who actually built their house, of which there were 14 out of 45 inthe survey.In 1904 there were only 18 farms beneficially occupied in the whole valley,and all were in what was recorded as the South Mazoe District in the Agri-cultural Census of 1905;9 of the small number of houses erected before 1914,it was surprising to find that 11 in our survey were reported to have been builtin those early days.Salient features of these houses in their present state are set out in TablesI-I.V together with comparable information for houses built in later periods.Of the 37 houses, only 24 were built by the present occupants, which repre-sent 53 per cent of those erected since 1945. In all groups extensions had beenmade to the houses, particularly during the period since 1956, and this applieseven to houses erected after that date. Apart from one farmer who hadjust commenced operations and was still living in a pole and dagga ronda-vei, all houses were of brick, with the oldest ones under iron. From 1919onwards, and particularly after the Second World War, houses were coveredwith asbestos or tile roofs while thatch was used on eight of the houses. Intotal, 63 per cent were under iron.Of the three forms of ant-proof courses in the walls, metal, bitumen andconcrete, the last was the most common, at 64 per cent. Damage by ter-mites was reported in 24 houses of which 18 had a concrete ant-proof course,2 metal and 4 bitumen.Table II shows that there was no marked difference in the size of housesbuilt during the four periods if we include the rooms which were added ata later date. There was a wide range in the number of rooms from 6 to 21,with 53 houses possessing from 9 to 12. No record was obtained of the sizeof rooms, but the impression from observation was that normally they werelarge.Forty-one houses possessed one set of modern conveniences in the form ofbath with or without shower, hand basin and toilet. Another 41 and 2 sets,while 4 houses had 3; one house, with 16 rooms built after 1945, had 4. Allhouses possessed a telephone, whereas only 65 possessed a television set.The stoep is a characteristic feature of farm houses in Rhodesia, particu-larly of the older houses, either built as part of the original house or addedlater. However, 7 houses in our survey were without stoeps, while on theother hand 33 houses had 2 stoeps and 14 had 3 or more. There was noapparent relation between the number of rooms and number of stoeps.s 'The Agricultural Census of April, 1904', The Rhodesian Agricultural Journal(1904-5). 2, 148.172 FARM HOUSES AND GARDENS IN THE MAZOE VALLEYTable ISHOWING A CLASSIFICATION BY AGE AND CONSTRUCTION OFEIGHTY-SEVEN FARM HOUSES IN THE MAZOE VALLEYIN THE SUMMER OF 1970-1Period of BuildingBefore the Post-War1914-18 War 1919-39 1945-55 1956-70 TotalsNumber of HousesHouse Built by PresentOccupantExtensionsPre-war (1939)Post-war1956 to 1970RoofingIronAsbestosSlates or TilesThatchAnti-Proof Course inWallsMetalBitumenConcreteTermite damage12Nil23312ŠŠŠ2Š10430NilŠ6182451Š6618103214ŠŠ18131324182381310ŠŠ4612426528724294255195811205624A. G. DAVISTable II173SHOWING A CLASSIFICATION BY ACCOMMODATION ANDASPECT OF EIGHTY-SEVEN FARM HOUSES IN THE MAZOEVALLEY IN THE SUMMER OF 1970-1Łx >Period of BuildingBefore the Post-War1914-18 War 1919-39 1945-551956-70 TotalsNumber of HousesNumber of Rooms5 to 89 to 1213 or moreModern ConveniencesOneTwoThree or moreStoepNoneOneTwoThree or moreScreens onWindowsStoepAspect of HouseNorthSouthEastWest1235475ŠŠ36375353130221714142Š51510252661210232221916133517912619771441317549Š283Š654441878542541415733331464552028318174FARM HOUSES AND GARDENS IN THE MAZOE VALLEYTable IIISHOWING A CLASSIFICATION BY SITING IN RELATION TO THEARABLE LANDS AND FARM BUILDINGS OF EIGHTY-SEVENFARM HOUSES IN THE MAZOE VALLEY IN THE SUMMER OF1970-1Period of BuildingBefore the Post-War1914-18 War 1919-39 1945-55 1956-70 TotalsNumber of HousesView from HouseCommandsAll the Arable LandsOver Half theArable LandsLess than Halfthe Arable LandsNoneDistance from House toMain Farm BuildingUnder 50 m50-100 m101-200 mOver 200 m121182214530311142571083216241988713-Š58ŠŠ5448752354516212624Table IVSHOWING A CLASSIFICATION OF THE EIGHTY-SEVEN GARDENSIN THE MAZOE VALLEY IN THE SUMMER OF 1970-1Period of BuildingBefore the Post-War1914-18 War 1919-39 1945-55 1956-70 TotalsNumber of HousesGarden SiteLevelTerracedSlopingApproximate Size (ha)Under 2/5Over 2/5 under 1Over 1Reservoir in GardenNoneOneTwo or moreSwimming PoolPool FilterGardens with NeitherReservoir norSwimming Pool1227364228220230146101012815141142113213118101665234153513445481571712873328263040172752846620« -4.A. G. DAVIS175Mosquito screens covered the windows of only 64 houses leaving 23 familiessubject to the incursions of flies, mosquitos and other flying insects. Stoepson 55 houses were enclosed by screens. The absence of screens on bothwindows and stoeps in some of the older houses was unexpected in view ofthe fact that D.D.T. and other effective insecticides were not available untilafter the last war. In some instances only one or two bedrooms possessedscreens on the windows, but unfortunately no detailed record was made onthis point. Normally houses faced north, south or east, rarely west.The topography of the Valley has lent itself to the siting of farm housesin positions where they command a wide view of the farm, enabling theoccupant to more easily supervise the field operations on his farm. Only 5houses did not overlook the arable land on the farm, while another 5 over-looked all the arable, as shown in Table III. Of the remainder, 23 commandeda view of over half the arable, and the balance of 54 looked out on less thanhalf. Likewise proximity to the main farm building provides for greater easeof supervision of labour, on servicing machinery and feeding of livestock.On the other hand too close proximity will engulf the house with flies andsmells from the farm when the wind is in the wrong direction. In our surveythere was a wide scatter of distance, with 16 farms where it was less than50 m and 24 where it exceeded 200 m.Lovely well-kept gardens form a characteristic feature of many home-steads in the Valley. The majority of the occupants employ at least oneperson in the garden, supplemented from time to time by additional farmlabourers. Water is by no means unlimited, so that the claims of the farmand the vegetable garden will normally take priority over the needs of flowersand shrubs. On the other hand, kraal manure or compost, together withtobacco scrap when available, are supplemented with fertilizers to providea generous level of fertility for the garden. The combined wealth of speciesof trees, shrubs and flowers in any one garden cannot be recorded on asingle visit so that a few readily recognizable features were noted and theseare set out in Table IV. Level gardens were more common than terraced orsloping ground. All were large in area, with 19 per cent being one hectareor more in size. This area, however, does include the vegetable garden.Water for the gardens was drawn direct from boreholes, from reservoirsin the garden and from swimming pools. Only 13 per cent of the pools hadfilters so that changing the water in the remainder was desirable if not alwavscarried out. Nevertheless it was surprising to find that 27 per cent of thegardens possessed neither a reservoir nor a swimming pool, which stronglysuggests that adequate water was directly available from the borehole inthese particular instances.The ravages of time may destroy roost of these houses in the present cen-tury. The majority were constructed of bricks made on the farm and aretherefore easily damaged. In addition termites readily gain access to woodenframes of doors and windows and particularly timber trusses in the roof.Unless both walls and woodwork are protected by careful and regular in-spection, coupled with good repair work, deterioration of both rapidly setsin. The fact that there were 12 houses in the study which had been standingfor over half a century is a marked tribute to those who built them andtheir subsequent owners.176 FARM HOUSES AND GARDENS IN THE MAZOE VALLEYACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThis study was made possible by the kind co-operation of eighty-seven ladieswhose homes were visited in the course of a survey during the summer of1970-1 and for whose help I am most grateful. I am indebted to M. H.Buttress for visiting each farm and completing an enquiry form upon whichthis report is based, and to Mr G. P. Y. Clarke and Mrs M. Pakenham forassistance with the records. The study was supported by a grant from theResearch Board of the University of Rhodesia.University of RhodesiaA. G. DAVIS