312 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



amount of coucentrated food to be fed to a dairy cow daily is to allow 

 1 lb. of concentrated food to every 4 lb. of milk yielded ; a second 

 method is to allow as many pounds of concentrated food daily, as the 

 cow yields pounds of butter-fat weekly. 



Poultry. — For the period 26th December, 1920, to 25th January, 

 1921, the total e^g production from the 120 hens in the laying com- 

 petition was 2444, or an average of 20 eggs per bird for the period, 

 which must be considered very satisfactory. The 54 ducks under 

 test laid during the same time 1065 eggs, an average of 20 also. 

 White Leghorns lead in the fowl competition and Indian Runners 

 in the duck competition. The best pen in the egg-laying competition 

 has up to 2nd February, 1921, laid 893 grade A eggs and 7 grade B 

 eggs in a period of 44 weeks. This pen is White Leghorns. This 

 compares with Cedara-bred birds under similar conditions as follows : 

 In 9 months 12 hens laid 1912 eggs, an average of 159 eggs per bird, 

 with the highest individual record of 204 eggs for 9 months. 



GROOTFONTEIN, MIDDELBURG (CAPE). 



Notes on the Planting of Crops during April. — During April 

 wheat, rye, oats, barley, emmer, and rape may be sown for grazing 

 purposes. When these crops are raised mainly for grazing, a larger 

 quantity of seed should be used than when sown for grain. Also 

 when sowing Durums a greater weight of grain should be used than 

 of the " common " varieties of wheat, as the grain of the Durums is 

 much larger and the plants do not stool as well as the common wheats. 

 The difference in the number of grains in a measured quantity of 

 seed, between Durums and the common wheats is sometimes 50 per 

 cent, more in the case of the latter. While an average of 40 lb. of 

 seed per acre of the common wheats is sufficient for most areas when 

 grain is the object, it would be necessary to sow 60 lb. of the Durum 

 types to procure a similar stand. 



The following rates of seeding per acre are dependent on locality 

 and the time of year sown : — 



DuruTn wheat may be sown at the average rate of 50 to 60 lb. 

 per acre for grazing. 



Common wheats at the rate of 30 to 50 lb. per acre for grazing. 



Rye at the rate of 40 lb. per acre for grazing. 



Oats at the rate of 50 to 70 lb. per acre for grazing. 



Barley at the rate of 40 to 60 lb. per acre for grazing. Barley 

 sown for grazing has not proved a success at Grootfontein, as it does 

 not recover as well as some of the other crops after being fed off. 



Emmer at the rate of 60 to 70 lb. per acre for grazing. The 

 Emmer grain is enclosed in the chaff, and therefore this point must 

 be considered when estimating the quantity required. This also 

 explains the apparently large amount of seed recommended per acre. 



Rape at the rate of 3 to 5 lb. per acre. This crop gives a large 

 amount of feed with the first growth, but does not withstand frost 

 when fed down. It is a very quick grower, and is generally quite fit 

 for grazing about ten weeks after being sown. 



All the above weights are for broadcasting ; the quantities may 

 be lessened by about 15 per cent, when drilled. 



