Sluit

At the distance of about sixty yards from me the deer stopped in the open sluit...

Referring to the sketch, the patches in green represent the relative amount of land under irrigation, as compared with the extent of the various farms, which are watered each by its own water-sluit. These sluits have no dam-head or weir to hold a supply. The stream is merely guided into them, at any convenient place, by a few stones, sticks, and sods, which the first flood carries away, and which are not replaced till the water is again required for irrigation.

1908 The Agricultural Journal of the Cape of Good Hope The ideal sluit-stopper seems to me a strong growing grass — not too much relished by stock, yet good food, a good rooter, working side shoots underground, and bearing close cropping, when required for food. If too much relished by stock, its value as a sluit-stopper and filler will be diminished. It must be tough, yet bendable when the sluit comes down, holding its own until the storm passes.

1938 Prevention of Soil Erosion. Farming in So. Africa 3 : 965. September 1928. The author discusses practical steps toward preventing soil erosion. After defining the different kinds of erosion he discusses the question of slope and its treatment including crops and permanent pasture, Mangum or ridge terraces and their construction, equipment, and cost. Methods of preventing gully or "sluit” erosion are given.