FODDBE AND PASTURE GRASSES OP SoUTH AFRICA. 433 



Hak VESTING. 



Ill ciiuosiu^- the best time for cutting Sudan grass consideration 

 should be given to tlie fact that three or four cuttings are expected, 

 and it would be, therefore, as well to make the first cutting as early 

 as possible, giving the grass plenty of time to make fresli growth. 

 It must also be borne in mind that the very best Sudan hay is made 

 when the grass is cut after full bloom and just before it sets seed. 

 For the last cutting, tlierefore, the grass can be left till this stage 

 IS reached. 



Harvesting siiould be done witJi a mower, and, if the weather is 

 liot and briglit, the grass can be cut in the morning and raked up 

 that afternoon or the following day. If cut at the right stage of 

 maturity and handled properly a bright, leavy, sweet hay will result. 



When cut for seed the first heads should be fully ripe, as the 

 stools mature somewhat later than tlie main stem and there is little 

 loss from shattering. 



Summary. 



1. Sudan grass is closely related to the kaffir, broom, and sweet corns, 



but yields superior hay to these and is free from pernicious 

 qualities as a soiling food. 



2. Three or four cuttings can be obtained from it under favourable 



conditions. 

 '). The yields vary from two to eight tons of hay per acre. 



4. It is a heavy yielder of grain. 



5. It grows Avell in districts suitable to kaffir corn. 



6. It is a crop that can be recommended for cultivation in areas where 



it is too hot and dry for teft to grow successfully. 



World Cotton Conference. 



The first conference of its kind known as the " World Cotton 

 Conference" took place in New Orleans, II. S. A., in 1918, about 500 

 delegates, representing thirty-two countries, being present, and was 

 attended by Mr. W. H. Scherffius, Chief of the Tobacco and Cotton 

 Division, who happened to be in that country at the time. Following 

 the success which attended the conference, a second one has been 

 arranged to take place in Liverpool and Manchester during June, 

 1921, at which it is expected that representatives from most places 

 where cotton is grown or manufactured will attend, and at the time of 

 v/riting more than one hundred delegates from the United States 

 alone have booked their passages for England. Unfortunately, cir- 

 cumstances do not permit of the Union being represented at the second 

 conference, but it is hoped that much valuable information will be 

 derived from the published reports of this noteworthy gathering of 

 experts, and from the papers which will be read at the conference 

 by the world's leading authorities on the various branches of the great 

 industry. The Division will keep in close touch with the conference 

 and apply its lessons to the budding cotton industry in South Africa, 

 which should share in the impetus to the industry throughout the 

 world which will doubtless result from the conference. 



