730 EXPERIMENT STATION BECOB©. [Tol. 87 



Field tests with Kafir corn, feterita, and milo maize are reported, and the 

 value of the first two as soiling or grain crops indicated. Yields of forage 

 amounting to 22,700 lbs. of feterita and 12,501 lbs. of Kafir corn per acre were 

 secured on lowland in 1915. Successive cuttings of feterita stubble yielded 

 19,199, 4,612, and 11,416 lbs. of stover or fodder for the second, third, and 

 fourtli cuttings, respectively, with grain yiel<ls of 10.8 and 9.8 bu. per acre 

 for the third and fourth cuttings. Plantings of feterita, milo maize, and Kafir 

 com on relatively high but fairly f«-tile land on November 20 gave average 

 yields of 11.4, 9.3, and 13.2 bu. per acre, respectively, while plantings made in 

 the same field on December 10 gave average yields of 7.8, 6.8, and 9.1 bu. per 

 acre, respectively. Seedlngs made January 10 on heavy lowland soil yielded 

 23.56 bu. with black-hulled Kafir corn, 18.18 bu. \nth feterita, and 15.7 bu. 

 with dwarf milo maize, the yields of green stover amounting to 7.i*95. 8.038. 

 and 5,628 lbs. per acre, resi>ectively. Counts of suckers and side branches 

 showed an average of 3 suckers and 2 side branches per plant for feterita. 1 

 sucker and 1 side branch for milo maize, and only occasional side branches or 

 suckers for Kafir corn. Approximately 25 per cent of the feterita heads were 

 in the flowering stage when harvested, while Kafir com and milo maize were 

 quite uniform in maturity and in height of plant. 



In the renovation of Para grass fields the best results were se^.ured from the 

 use of barnyard manure, when six cuttings were obtained yielding 65,604 lbs. 

 of green forage per acre. A mowing of Para gr:iss was scattered in furrows 

 about 3 ft. apart and covered with soil for comparison with the u.<!ual propa- 

 gation method of setting out roots. The estimate<l cost of the planting, exclu- 

 sive of plowing, was $3.60 per acre as compared with $10 per acre for the old 

 method. The grass attained an average height of 3 ft at the end of sLi weeks, 

 while approximately four months wa« required by the former system to attain 

 sufficient growth for pasture. The new method is deemed especially desirable 

 because It permits planting before the regular rains start, thereby providing 

 pasture and a soiling crop during the rainy season. 



The data from numerous tests with Pofpalvjn dilatatum ha.«< led to the fol- 

 lowing general conclusions regarding the adaptability and planting of this 

 grass: P. dilatatum on relatively high land has a value of fully one-half of 

 that planted on low land during the rainy season. Large divisions of roots in 

 plantings set not more than 2 ft. apart each way were found to be advisable 

 even on low land for a thick turf and a quick pasture. Deep preparation of the 

 soil before pianting and careful weeding after planting are deemed essential 

 for the best results. Live stock should not be pastured on the grass until four 

 months after planting under ideal conditions, whereas on the higher lands fully 

 six months should be allowed for the gra-ss to become established. 



Field tests with Guinea grass (Paniruin maximum) , millet, Elephantorrhiea 

 elephantina, and Russian sunflower are briefly noted, the last-named crop alone 

 being deemed sufficiently suited to Ouam couditions for extended use. 



[Report on field crops work at the Missouri Experiment Station] (,\fifisouri 

 Sta. Bui. U7 (1917). pp. S5-ST. ^. SO, 51, 5S-54- fkis. 4 1.— This reports the 

 continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 35, p. 825). 



Corn investigations conducted by C. B. Hutchison, E. M. McDonald, and 

 A. R. Evans included a continuation of variety tests at Columbia and on 

 various fields throughout the State, the leading v.arlcties remaining as pre- 

 viously reported (E. S. R., 36, p. 135), and cultural tests on Ihe Maryvllle and 

 Warrensburg fields. The highest corn yields at Maryville were secured for the 

 first time from plantings made with a furrow opener, while single listing gave 

 the next best yields, and surface planting the lowe.>^t yield. On the Warrens- 

 burg field little difference in yield was noted with com planted on stalk land 



