24 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — July, 1922. 



Molasses Grass. — The repeated and unqualified praise of 

 Molasses grass (Melitiis minutiflora) by a Eliodesiau, which has ap- 

 peared in the Press, has resulted in this Division receiving 

 numerous inquiries for seed and for information as to the suitability 

 of this grass for various localities in the Union. Melinis viinutifiora 

 is a much branched perennial with ascending- culms; the very green 

 leaves are from A to f, or sometimes even 1 inch broad, taper to a 

 fine point, and together with the sheath are covered with sticky 

 tubercle based hairs, which stickiness taken in conjunction with the 

 strong fragrant Molasses-like odour, has given the plant its popular 

 name. The flowering head is rather long and ^larrow, and consists 

 of numerous very small purplish florets each terminated by a long- 

 bristle, giving the head a feathery appearance. 



We have very little first hand information about the behaviour 

 of this grass in the Union as our experiments with it at Groenkloof 

 were not at first successful. Seed sown in October, November, and 

 December of last year all failed to germinate, but a further lot sown 

 in January germinated well, and good rain falling soon after sowing, 

 a satisfactory plot of the grass was obtained, which by the 7th April 

 had reached the height of 3 feet, but showed no signs of flowering. 

 It was frequently irrigated and looked well till the first frosts which 

 scorched the upper leaves ; the rather heavy frost which followed 

 soon after turned the whole plot brown to the roots. 



At the Botanical Laboratories two small plots of the grass were 

 sown in November, 1920, and November, 1921 ; in both the grass is 

 at the time of writing (7th June) about 2| feet high, and has just 

 started to flower for the first time. Neither of the plots has been 

 irrigated, and so far has been but little affected by the drought 

 or frost. 



Molasses grass occurs naturally at Barberton, Lydenburg, and 

 the Northern Transvaal, and would appear to be a very promising 

 grass. It forms a mass of succulent, soft, green foliage, which, if 

 reports speak truly, is very palatable to stock ; but until we have 

 tested it thoroughly we cannot recommend it for the Union with any 

 degree of assurance. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Citrus Crowing — Lessons from California. — The Chief of the 



Division recently requested Mr. R. J. Blatt, scholarship student in 

 horticulture at Berkeley, California, to make certain inquiries con- 

 cerning the citrus industry in that State. The following questions 

 were included: — 



1. What is the average age of worked Washington navels when 



trees cease to bear a profitable crop, and what are the 

 main causes of early decadence? 



2. What can be done to control Psylla which has been known 



to cause heavy falling of fruit? 



3. Do sudden cold spells, say a drop of 40° F. within 24 hours, 



cause fruit to fall from the trees? 



4. What are the main reasons of external disfigurement of 



fruit causing an orange to be placed in a lower grade? 



