314 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



potchefstroom, transvaal. 



In March, Kale (variety Chou MouUier), Dwarf Essex Rape, 

 Early Bye, and Barley will be sown to provide green winter-feed for 

 stock. Farmers are advised, especially in the drought-stricken 

 section of the Province, to sow the last three crops and also Winter 

 Dun and Algerian oats in March and April with the late rains (if 

 any), in order to provide green feed in early winter for cattle, pigs, 

 and more especially sheep. On irrigable land, Winter Dun and 

 also Algerian oats will be sown in April at this station, in order to 

 provide grazing for ewes dropping their lambs in early winter. Such 

 crops are grazed at various intervals as late as the end of July and 

 sometimes the middle of August. The yield of oat grain or hay is 

 not materially reduced, provided a fair supply of irrigation water 

 is available in late winter, and the land is in a good state of fertility. 



A small plot of sunflower on the experimental section yielded 

 green forage at the rate of 14| tons to the acre. On the farm an 

 area of 1^ acres of sunflower yielded 10 tons of green fodder, whereas 

 an adjoining crop of maize proved a failure and would realize 

 (estimated) about 2 tons green feed to the acre. Sunflower silage has 

 been made in order to test its feeding value and palatability compared 

 with maize silage. The crop has proved more drought resistant than 

 maize. 



An analysis of the results of trials with varieties of wheat under 

 irrigation for several years up to and including 1920, in each case 

 shows the following varieties as leading in the periods for which- 

 averages were taken : — 



1. Varieties in a Five-year Average (yield in lb. per acre). — 

 Gluyas Early, 1561 ; Australian Early, 1481 : Marshall's White, 

 1461; Eymer, 1411. 



2. Varieties in a Four-year Average (yield in lb. per acre). — 

 Gluyas Early, 1511; Washington Blue Stem, 1442: Comeback, 1421; 

 Red May, 1305. 



3. Varieties in a Three-year Average (yield in lb. per acre). — 

 Gluyas Early, 1748 ; Comeback, 1528 ; Bombay, 1513 : Australian 

 Early, 1436. 



Note. — Washington Blue Stem and Comeback grown for four 

 years only; Bombay for three years only. 



For the Indian varieties Lalkasarwali and Pusa No. 12, with 

 Union Sel. No. 3, only two years' results are available. The jdelds 

 in lb. per acre of the leading varieties, on the average results for 

 1919 and 1920, are as follows : Lalkasarwali, 1812 ; Gluyas Early, 

 1665: Bombay, 1585; IJnion Sel. No. 3, 1524; Pusa No. 12, 1477. 

 Although the comparative positions of these varieties must not be 

 taken as final, the results indicate that Lalkasarwali is a variety which 

 farmers, growing wheat under irrigation in this area, should give a 

 trial. It is a bearded variety, earlier than Gluyas Early. 



Fruit growers are advised at this time to pick up and destroy 

 all fallen fruits, in order to assist in controlling codling-moth and 

 fruit-fly. Wherever weeds have made any headway in orchards, or 

 a green manure crop has been grown, these should be ploughed in 

 now, in order to allow the vegetable matter to decay before the dry 

 weather sets in. 



