Vol. XV. No. 381. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS 



395 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF 



THE SEEDS OP SUDAN GRASS 



AND JOHNSON GRASS. 



The close relationship i>t' Siulan gra.ss and Johnson 

 grass leads to a pronounced similarity in their seeds. The 

 two kinds of seed can be distinguished, however, when 

 their comparative size and certain features of their 

 appearance due to differences in development are 

 considered. These are set out usefully in Bulletin No. 

 4.0(!, United States Department of Agriculture. The 

 information is important to the West Indies owing to 

 recent discussions that have arisen on the suliject. 



Sudan grass seeds in the hull vary from eighteen one-hun- 

 dredths to twenty-five ODehundredths of an inch in length, 

 exclu.sive of the short stem. Mo.st of the seeds bear at the 

 base of each a short stem which is jaggedly broken at its 

 extremity. This stem represents the upper p irlion of a rachi.s 

 segment, and is expanded at its articulation with the spikelet, 

 or seed. The articulation may be marked by a .slight constric- 

 tion, but it has no distinct suture. The appendages of the 

 spikelet usually are jaggedly broken and not expanded at the 

 apex. The missing portion corresponds to the short stem of 

 the spikelet described . 



The seed hull is mainly straw-coloured or light tawny. 

 Many seeds are tinged or spotted with brown. Some are 

 tinged or spotted with red. The darkest are blackish-brown. 

 In general, commercial seed has a smaller proportion of red- 

 dish and blackish-brown seeds than .Johnson grass. The 

 hulled grains vary from thirteen one-hundredths to eighteea 

 one-httndredths of an 'inch in length, and are light reddish- 

 brown. They are larger, more commonly elliptical in out- 

 line, and lighter-coloured than in Johnson grass. Even in 

 the smaller grains the embryo is relatively larger than that 

 found in Johnson grass seeds. 



Johnson grass seeds in the hull vary in length from 

 fifteen one-hundredths to twenty-two one-hundredths of an 

 inch. Most of the seeds have a smooth, rounded, and light- 

 coloured scar at the base. The appendages of the seed are 

 mostly entire, expanded, cup shaped, and smooth at the 

 apexes, corresponding with the scar at the base of the seed. 

 The uniformly smooth border of the expanded, cup shaped 

 apex, together with the smooth seed scar, results from the 

 normal separation of the .seed along a definite suture. 



The prevailing colour of mature seed hulls is blackish- 

 brown. Many seeds are partially or wholly reddish. Some 

 are straw-coloured. A few are tawny or light-brown. 



The hulled grains vary from eight one-hundredths to 

 twelve one-hundredths of an inch in lenath. They usually 

 are oval, sometimes oval-elliptical in outline, the embryo end 

 tending to be the more pointed. The colour is dark reddish- 

 brown. They are noticeably smaller and darker-coloured 

 than those of Sudan grass, and have a relatively narrower 

 embryo. 



The Antigua Sun has given publicity to the letter sent 

 by the Commissioner of Agriculture to the Government in 

 regard to the high price of wheat flour and the growing of 

 substitutes, in Antigua, it is slated that the inhabitants are 

 already feeling the high price of flour acutely, and it is 

 believed that there are harder times in store in the ne ir 

 future. It will be remembered that extended cultivation of 

 Indian corn, Guinea corn, and ground provision crops has 

 been recommended. 



AGRICULTURAL CADETSHIPS IN 



GRENADA. 



In the last issue of the Agricultural Neivs was 

 published an account of the instruction given to 

 agricultural pupils at the Botanic Gardens, Dominica. 

 The following is an account of the educational work 

 arranged for in Grenada in connexion with the 

 Agricultural Department and the Government Gram- 

 mar School: — 



A new scheme of Agricultural Cadetships will be brought 

 into operation in the next financial 3'ear, with the definite 

 object of providing a training for a limited number of eligible 

 young men who are able to satisfy the authorities that they 

 intend to take up agricultural pursuits in the Colony, on 

 completing their course of training. 



The main features of the new system are that the cadetsi 

 who will be selected on the joint recommendation of the 

 Superintendent of Agriculture and the Head-master of the 

 Grenada Boys' School, will undergo a course of Agricultural 

 Science at the Secondary School for one year. During this 

 year they will each receive a grant of £2i. 



In the second year a similar grant will be given, and the 

 cadets will be attached to the Department of .Agriculture for 

 instruction in the practical work of the Botanic and Experi- 

 ment Stations. 



During the third year the cadets will be attached to 

 estates, for the purpose of learning practical estate work and 

 the management of labour. The estates will provide lodging 

 for the cadets who will continue in this year to receive the 

 grant of £24 from the Government. 



The examinations of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture will be u.sed as a means of testing the progress 

 of the cadets throughout their course. During the second 

 year the Preliminary Examination will be taken, and at the 

 end of the course the cadet must pass the Intermediate 

 Examination of the Imperial Department of Agriculture. 

 If a cadet fails in the latter he will be given opportunity of 

 a second trial, and his cadetship grant will be continued 

 for another twelve months if necessary, three months of the 

 extended period to be with the Superintendent of Agriculture, 

 and the remainder on an estate. A cadet on passing his 

 Final Examination will be granted a certificate as an Overseer, 

 by the Board of Agriculture. 



The cadets will be required to enter into a contract, with 

 two responsible sureties, guaranteeing to return the amount 

 expended by the Government if they fail to complete the 

 course laid down. 



It is intended to oflfer two cadetships each year. 



The selection of cidets vi'ill be made from candidates who 

 have passed the Junior Cambridge E.xamination. 



In order to fit in with the school course and the Imperial 

 Department examinations, it is intended that the cadetships 

 shall start with the school year in September. 



The above scheme has not yet been put into effect 

 owing to the cessation of .science teaching at the 

 Grammar School consequent on the resignation of the 

 Head-master. 



