406 Journal op the Department op Agriculture. 



THE SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE AND EXPERIMENT 



STATIONS. 



CEDARA, NATAL. 



()v('i sixty varieties ot legumes, comprising' ihvart and runner 

 beans, soya beans, and cowpeas, liave been planted for obseivaiiou 

 and comparison. 



Twenty varieties of dwarf beans were planted and ten varieties 

 have matured and been harvested. Most of these flowered in 45 days, 

 coiunienced to i)od in 55 days, and attained full maturity in 90 days. 



The plants flowered profusely, but only ptxlded moderately well 

 on account of attacks from black and yellow beetles {MyhiJu-is sp.). 

 After the formation of the pod, anthracnose appeared and aft'ected 

 some of the varieties. African Wonder, Burpeas, Stringless, and 

 White Dwarf showed up particulaily well, making a rapid giowtli of 

 healthy foliage, and producing- a fair yield of seed. During the 

 period of growth the total rainfall was 9.5 inches, with an average 

 sunshine of T hours per day. 



Kikuyu grass has not made as much growth during the present 

 year as in former years. It appears as though the very large growth 

 in previous years has more or less exhausted the ground, M'hicli is 

 very full of large roots. Manuring of this grass appears to be 

 necessary, the soil being unable unaided to continue to produce such 

 heavy yields as are obtained in the past season or two. Experiments 

 have shown lliat a very good response is made by Kikuyu if numures 

 be applied, and that continued heavy crops may be obtained by 

 judicious fertilizing. 



Rhodes grass is proving a vtny good second to Kikuyu and is 

 making excellent growth. Erect in habit, Avith strong runners, and 

 good covering capacity, this grass is very suitable either for cutting 

 for hay or for grazing. 



RotthoeJJia coinpressa is showing up very satisfactory under hill 

 conditions. Though a vlei grass, it has done much better than Avas 

 expected under hillside conditions, and may prove to be a grass worthy 

 of further trial. 



Pasi)alum nas again been badly affected with ergot, and paspalum 

 pastures have twice been mown to get rid of the ergot-infested seed 

 heads. 



GLEN. ORANGE FREE STATE. 



The question of winter feed should seriously engage the attention 

 of farmers, particularly in districts in the eastern part of the Free 

 State where the maize crop has been a partial failure. The most 

 economical w^ay to make use of a maize crop which is partially 

 destroyed by drought or too late to reach maturity before the frost 

 comes, is to turn it into silage. The investigations of the Drought 

 Commission liav(> clearly shown tliat tiiere is a serious shortage of 

 silos in the country . Every fainier cannot build a silo, but every one 

 can make a pit silo. When oik c (lie advantage of silage is realized 

 a properly constructed silo will be considered an essential on a fMrm. 

 Provision must be made not only for the winter, but also foi dry 

 periods during the summer months. 



