400 JOUHNAL OF THE DErAETMKNT OF AGRICULTURE. NoV., 1922. 



Grasses and Clovers at Groenkloof and the Dry-lands Station. — 



riie g'lasses that came tliiough the winter hest were PhaJmis hiilhosa 

 and Eescue Grass (Bromiis iriUdeuorii). Three cuttings were obtained 

 from Fhalaris buJhosa between May and August, giving five cuttings 

 in twelve months from the date of planting-. Rescue Grass remained 

 green throughout the winter, but the stand was too thin to enable 

 one to get a cutting. 



Amongst the indigenous grasses Penriisetum unisetum (Natal 

 grass) again proved itself to be very frost resistant. It seemed to 

 stand the cold much better on dry lands than under irrigation. This 

 may be due to the irrigated plots being on a much lower site than 

 those situated on the dry lands. 



Since the rains all the grasses both indigenous and exotic have 

 commenced putting on rapid growth with the exception of Molasses 

 grass which has been completely killed by frost. 



About 30 varieties and strains of clover are being tried at Groen- 

 kloof under irrigation ; the two outstanding varieties are Medium 

 Red and Berseem Clover, the former standing about 3 ft. to 3 ft. 

 6 in. high and the latter 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. The Cape Burr Clover 

 has also put on vigorous growth since July, but being of a prostrate 

 habit of growth is not so conspicuous as the other varieties. 



National Herbarium. — A correspondent from Wolmaransstad 

 sent in a specimen of Typha (Bullrush) and reported it w^as choking 

 his dam. It is the first occasion this plant has been reported to the 

 Division as a potential weed. The plant is common in most vleis 

 throughout South Africa, and if it is likely to prove troublesome in 

 dams, the water sliould be drained off, if possible, and an attempt 

 made to uproot the underground rhizomes. 



The Noxious Weed Inspector in Natal forwarded an unnamed 

 species of Opuntia and was advised to carefully watch the spread of 

 this plant as it is quite possible it may become a pest. 



From Rhodesia and Portuguese East Africa a new leguminous 

 tree has been recorded and recently described as DIalium Simii, Phil. 



The District Forest Officer in Zululand forwarded a shrub from 

 the native forests, said to be very common. It proved to be an 

 undescribed species of Xylotheca (A. Kotzeii, Phil.). 



TOBACCO AND COTTON. 



Cotton in Zululand. — During September the Chief of the Division 

 toured Zululand and Swaziland with a party studying the soil and 

 climatic conditions of those areas, relative to their suitability for 

 agricultural development. The greatest amount of progress in 

 agriculture was shown at Candover Estates and Pongola Estate where, 

 next season 3000 acres are being prepared for cotton culture. Goss 

 Estate in the same area will have approximately 1000 acres, and, 

 with other smaller properties, will bring the cotton acreage of that 

 area up to 5000 acres. Several big ranching companies in Swaziland, 

 engaged principally in the production of beef cattle, were visited. 

 One of them had about 500 acres under crops, and further consider- 

 able agricultural development is imminent. 



