FORAGE CROPS, MEADOWS AND PASTURES I2qi 



that is to say, on comparing with Perennial rye grass {Loliiiin perenne) which 

 grows in the same parts, Paspaliim dilatatnm is not inferior in vahie from 

 the point of view of richness in useful elements and mutual proportions of 

 the latter. If this fact is taken into account, and also the abundance and 

 good qualit}' of the forage supplied during the entire year and the prefer- 

 ence cattle show for it, one is forced to the conclusion that it is at least equal 

 to English rye grass which has been imported into the countr}-. 



The same may be said of other wild forage plants occurring wideh" in 

 Argentina, which might very well and at very small cost take the place of 

 the numerous exotic species which Argentine breeders are endeavouring 

 to introduce into the country at heav}- expense. 



979 - Natal Grass ( THcholaena rosea), a Forage Plant for Hot Countries. — Tracy 



D. C, ill V . S. Department of AKi'icuUurc, Farmer's Bulletin ~2(y, i6 pp., 4 fig., Washington, 

 M, S. June 8, 191 6. 



Tricholaena rosea, called " Natal Grass " in the United vStates, is a 

 native plant of South Africa, but long acclimatised in Florida. For some 

 years past its cultivation in the sandy soils of that State has increased, and 

 has also spread along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico as far as South Texas. 

 In the United States this forage plant can only be cultivated right in the 

 south. It is the most valuable forage plant hitherto found for the sandy 

 soils of Florida, and will no doubt prove equally valuable in Southern Texas 

 and further west in Arizona, as also in California. 



Tricholaena rosea is a perennial, but does not survive the winter ever>'- 

 where when the temperature falls much below 0° C. Heavy frosts destroy 

 the fallen seeds, rendering natural propagation of the plant impossible. 

 In Florida it is usually grown as an annual. The soils most suited to it 

 are well-drained sandy soils. In compact soils it does not appear to spread 

 itself well, It is suitable as a summer crop following on winter crops such 

 as oats or kitchen garden plants. When a sandy soil has been sown with 

 Tricholaena rosea it is not necessary- to re-sow if the land cultivated in autumn 

 has produced a winter crop and has been cultivated or harrowed again in 

 the spring. If the soil on which this forage plant is grown is not used to 

 produce a winter crop and is not cultivated, it will furnish an early spring- 

 crop and a large number of cuts in the course of the year. The total hay 

 crop, however, will be about equal to that obtainable by growing a winter 

 crop. The average unit production is 40 to 56 cwt. of hay per acre or about 

 13.5 cwt of hay per acre per crop. In good years, crops twice as great as 

 these are obtained. 



Tricholaena rosea is not adapted for forming a pasture, and ranks poorly 

 as a grazing grass. Its hay is excellent ; it dries easily, is highly nutritive, 

 looks good and is much liked by the animals. Its composition is as indi- 

 cated in the appended Table, as compared with the average conijiosition 

 of Timoth}^ (Phleiim) resulting from analyses of 272 samples. 



