874 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Dec. 2, 1920. 



Sudan grass is not likely to displace maize or sorghum for green fodder 

 purposes, as under equal conditions it will not yield a greater bulk of fodder. 

 It is a useful plant, however, and under suitable weather conditions it may 

 be made into a very superior liay that is much relished by all classes of 

 stock. 



Elephant Grass. 



Plots of Elephant grass were established on the farms of the following 



farmers :■ — 



J. H. Martin. I'anibuja. 

 E. G. Kelly. Bega. 

 L. B. Garrad, Milton. 



The plants were set out in October, and were allowed to attain their full 

 growth. The stems were then cut and thrown out to the stock, which in all 

 cases refused them, the stems apparently being too hard and not sufficiently 

 appetising. A yield of 49 tons 18 cwt. per acre was obtained at Pambula. 

 After the first cutting another growth of stems appeared. These were cut 

 when about 2 feet long and proved more palatable to the stock. 



This plant might occupy waste land or be planted to stop erosion on creek 

 banks. 



S ace aline. 



A plot of Saccaline was sown on Mr. J. H. Martin's farm at Pambula. 

 It was planted on 2Tth August, 1919, and cut 1st May, 1920, when a yield 

 of 36 tOHS 14 cwt. of excellent green fodder was obtained. 



The stems were very juicy aiid sweet, and were eagerly devoured by the 

 dairy stock. This is a plant which requires a longer growing season than 

 Planter's Friend, and seems to stand well into the winter months if not 

 severely attacked by red stain disease. 



T\A'0 L.\MBINGS A YeAK. 



''How soon after parturition may a ewe be satisfactorily bred from?" in- 

 quired a correspondent recently. It is only in occasional instances that a 

 ewe will perform the dual functions of gestation and lactation at the same 

 time. The most likely time to secure pregnancy during the lactation period 

 would be from about three weeks to a month after parturition. If the 

 object were to regain numbers as the result of the disastrous effect of the 

 drought, not very much good would accrue from keeping the rams with the 

 ewes all the time; a better plan would be to aim at a good autumn lambing, 

 and then to draft off all owes that have missed and mate them up again 

 for a late spring or summer lambing. In order to avoid prostration through 

 the ewes lambing in mid-summer, the first mating should take place as early 

 in the spring as possible. — J. Wrenfokp M.mhews. 



There is no necessity to pinch back the tops of potatoes. The leaves manu- 

 facture the starch that is stored in the tubers, and any interference with 

 the tops is therefore liable to detract from the yield. — A. J. Pinn, Inspector 

 of Agriculture. 



