oOi Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



GLEN, ORANGE FREE STATE. 



GcncraL — There is an abuutlauce of glass all (jver the couutry. 

 Fanners are strongly advised to cut and stack as much of this as 

 possible, eA'en after the frost, as any kind of bulk feed is Aveleonic 

 during- a severe drought. 



Maize Experiincnts. — In the experimental trials with maize this 

 year, it was again shown that a crop raised from seed introduced 

 from the low veld takes a longer time to come to maturity than a crop 

 of similar seed secured from the high vehl. This phenomenon can 

 be explained in this way : if a variety has been grown in a certain 

 locality with a long- growing season for a number of years, it naturall\ 

 adapts itself to the soil and climatic condition of that area, a] id if 

 seed of this variety is taken to an area witli a shorter growing period 

 than that to which it has been accustomed it would necessarily, for 

 the first year at least, take the same period of time to complete its 

 growth, and would continue to do so until it adapts itself once more 

 (or becomes acclimatized) to the new conditions. The mealie plant 

 will, of course, adapt itself to new conditions within limits; thus, a 

 variety taking five months to mature could not be expected to adapt 

 itself to mature in three months. 



Another noticeable feature was that the cross-bred varieties, such 

 as German Yellow, Potchefstroom Pearl, etc., stood the drought far 

 better than the pure-bred varieties, such as Hickory King, low'a Silver 

 Mine, Chester County, etc. This again proves that when maize has 

 been inbred too much, it loses its vigour, and an infusion of " new 

 blood '' of the same variety, in preference to that of another variety, 

 is necessary to restore constitution. 



Cowpeas and Kaffir JJcdiis. — In comparative trials with cowpeas 

 and kafhr beans to prove their similarity or otherwise, it was found 

 that the latter crop, although much later in maturing, stood the dry 

 condition infinitely better than the former, and yielded more than 

 twice the tonnage of green stuff per acre. In view of this it is 

 unnecessary for farmers to buy cowpeas at Is, per lb. when they could 

 secure nrixed kaffir beans at from 15s. per bag of 200 lb. 



II ttc/i treed. — l{e(|uests are often received from farmers for advice 

 on the eradication of witchweed (isona). (^ne fairly effective way is 

 to grow either teff grass or Sudan grass on the infected held. Both 

 these grasses, as do nuiize, kaffir corn, etc., act as hosts to the weed, 

 which generally does not show above the ground until the latter pait 

 of January or during February, By that time the first crop of 

 teff or Sudan grass can generally be cut for hay, and when the weed 

 shows " red " over the land and before it starts seeding, it should be 

 ploughed under with what grass there is at that time. The next year 

 some Witchweed may ])ut in an appearance as a result of seed that did 

 not germinate tln^ first time, but danger from this pest will have been 

 avoided. 



Plant Nurseries in Quarantine. 



There is no change in the list of nurseries placed in (|Marantine a> 

 published in the May, PJ21, Journal. 



