118 Afjrlcidfaral Gazette of X.S.W. [Fetj. 'i, \^i)^. 



Itliiiilcv (Ira'-s {<'hl(>n>i (ini/dini var.). — Tliis ji'rass, alt Ikhi'jIi oiih intro- 

 duced into tlio State comparatively i-cci'ntl\-. has sincad i-a|iiill\. ami is 

 imw well known. Tlu' ix'asons foi- its i'a]iiil rise into t'avdur arc its 

 wonderful jiowur oi' loturiiin^' lar^v yields of fodder when Liii>wii on poor 

 soil, and its power of resisting' drotinlit. I'a^ pnl u m dihilal tun has long 

 • ■njoyed a reputation for produet iveness : huf the essential conditions for 

 success with it are a fairly rich soil and a iCLiular rainfall, and whei'i' these 

 are absent it does not always thrive. Rhohs (Jrass tills the iiiii. ami pro- 

 bahly no other grass will Li'ive such good re-ults under adverse eondit ions of 

 s(jil and climate. It is particularly suited for li^ht. sandy soils; l)ut also 

 thrives in even heavy clavs. It does not stand frost well, and is cut down 



Rhodes Grass (Clilcrm (idiitna var. i, four months after sowinj 



in the winter, hut ui'oavs i-apidly in the s])rim:', and attains a lieight of 

 • ) to 1 feet. In experiments at the College it has yielded up to 1 "_' tons of 

 green forage per acre. The stems are tine, ami in their early stages' 

 surculent : hut if not kept closely grazed or cut hefcu'e the seed hardens, 

 it heeomes a little coarse and har>li. The feeiliuL; value is hicli. and it is 

 relisiied l)y all classes of stock. The stem-; in the earlv stages of their 

 growth ai'e procumbent, and as tlu'V root at evei'v node, fi'c^sli centres of 

 growth are l)eing constantly formed, and the ci'ouml is i|uickl\- covered 

 with a dense sward. \\ hen the flowering is ahoiit to occur, in November 

 or December, the stems grow u])right rapidly, and if it is desired to 

 make it into hay. no diffit'idty is found in cuttinL;' it at this time. It is 

 likely that it will In't'onie ]iopuhii- f(U' hay and ensilage. owiuL:' to its: 



