Fodder and Pasture G-rasses op South Africa. 



431 



Mr. A. E. SchJenker, ot Pificishurn-. \\iol(> ;).s follows in the 

 Farmers Weekly. 19tli Septeiubpr, 1917: — 



" Near Pietei'sburg a plot of six acres virgin soil was broken up 

 in the autumn of 1916 about 5 in. deep, harrowed, and in November, 

 after the first good rain, again ploughed 8 in. deep and harrowed. 

 Three acres were drilled in lows 2^ ft. ai)ait, using about 8^- lb. of 

 seed to the acre; as the ground was fairly diy it was immediately 

 rolled after sowing. Then a light laiii fell, and the Need geimiuated 

 in eight days. From the time of the second plougliing to the end 

 of March, 1917, 8 in. of rain fell, and tlie field was a waving Held 

 of Sudan grass four or five feet higli. heavy wilh ripe, plump seed. 

 The drilled acres were cultivated once. In spite of that the broad- 

 casted three acres looked bettei and gave a much more even stand of 

 seed. Mealies grown in the neighbourhood gave at most half a bag 

 to the acre. Most of the teft' sown had to be grazed, being too poor 

 to cuf. The first cutting of Sudan grass weighed a little over 2 tons 

 per acre. The second growth (K ft.) was grazed (h)wn." 



Yield. 



Sudan gTass is a very fast grower. Mr. Bosnian, Vice-Principal, 

 School of Agricidture, Glen, records that, planted on 10th November, 

 at Potchefstroom Experiment Station, the flowers appeared on 12th 

 January, and the crop was cut shortly afterwards, when it w'as nearly 

 6 ft. high. The yield was 26,200 lb. of green fodder per acre; tlie 

 second cutting was taken off on 11th March, when the crop was again 

 3| ft. high, and yielded 12.900 lb. of green fodder. The total weight 

 of green fodder from the acre was 89,100 lb., or approximately 

 19.2 tons. This yield was obtained under very favourable conditions. 

 Sown for seed purposes on 10th November and harvested on 11th 

 March, it was 8 ft. high and yielded 900 lb. of se^^d, as well as 

 20,900 lb. of straw per acre. 



Palatability. 



Sudan grass, if not allowed to grow too coarse, makes a hay of 

 excellent quality, and all stock eat it readily. Evesi if the stems 

 become thicker than a lead-pencil, if cured and chaffed it will be 

 greedily eaten by cattle. It is suited admirably as a soiling crop, 

 since it makes a large yield and is very palatable in tlie green state 

 as well as when cured for hay. 



In the following analysis the most important point, perha])S, is 

 the comparison between the mature plant with that cut in bloom: — 



Cut 7th Auu'Hst. 



