Aug. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 551 



Early Amber Cane Improvement. 



In addition to Early Amber Cane for the coastal districts, it has been 

 found that a great deal can be done -in developing a strain suitable for the 

 western districts. Acclimatisation is a big factor in such work, and at 

 Cowra, Bathurst, and even at Nyngan during the past season. Amber Cane, 

 which is the progeny of selected and acclimatised plants grown at the 

 respective farms during the past four year;?, has pi'oduced very satisfactory 

 results. The manager of Cowra Experiment Farm report^ that it has yielded 

 better under the drought conditions than the grain sorghums. 



Improvement of Saccaline. 



This new strain of sorghum has been grown largely by farmers during the 

 past season. Last year it was credited with greater yields than Planter's 

 Friend, but during the present season there have been several plots of the 

 latter which have yielded better than Saccaline grown alongside. It is also 

 slower in maturing than Planter's Friend, a ditlerence of three weeks being 

 noticed in some cases. Whether^ its second growth is faster and greater 

 remains yet to be proved. Advantages which it undoubtedly possesses over 

 Planter's Friend are its superior sweetness and its greater stooling qualities. 

 Last year it was credited with being more free from stain than ordinary 

 Planter's Friend, but duiing the present season it has in some localities been 

 badly affected. 



In improving Saccaline, therefore, particular attention should be paid to 

 shortening its period of maturity, as well as increasing the yield. That the 

 yield can be increased seems fairly evident from experiments carried out at 

 Wollongbar, but sufficient work has not yet been done to effect any marked 

 improvement in shortening the period of maturity. 



The wide heavy foliage of Saccaline, its sturdy stalks, its sweetness, its 

 stooling qualities, and its large heads of seed render it a very attractive 

 sorghum. It is sure to be grown largely by coastal farmers in the future. 



. Sorghum; Chaff as Feed for Working Houses. 



Sorghum crops on farmers' experiment plots in the north-western district 

 were so adversely affected during the 1919-20 trials that only in one instance 

 were comparable yields obtained. These were on the plots belonging to Mr. 

 H. Lye, Loomberah, Tamworth, where Planter's Friend yielded 1 ton 8| cwt. 

 of green fodder, and Saccaline and Feterita each yielded 1 ton. Early Amber 

 Cane 13 J cwt., and Kaoliang 7| cwt. During the wheat sowing period Mr, 

 Lye has been feeding his working horses' upon two parts straw chaff" and one 

 part sorghum chaff", and although worked every day the horses actually 

 picked up in condition. Owing to this favourable result, the owner intends 

 to sow a larger area to the grain s'^rghum Feterita next year, to cut the crop 

 for hay, and to add a portion o:!^ soi^ghum chaff" to the ordinary ration for his 

 working horses. The grain added in this way will be substituted for maize. -7- 

 H, Bartlett, Assistant Inspector of Agriculture. 



