Experiments and Investigations. IGo 



The use of phosphates wliit-h are not readily soluble, on the other 

 iiand, will build up in the soil a reserve of phosphate which, under- 

 <>-oing' natural decomposition, will in the course of a fe^v years, it is 

 believed, yield ui) a sufficiency of plant food for crops. 



By the use of limestone and insoluble phosphate together it is 

 thouf^ht that it may be possible so to alter the nature of the soil that 

 legumes may be grown with comparative ease. At present clovers, 

 lucerne, beans, etc., are practical failures on the majority of Natal 

 farms, and this experiment is designed to try and bring the soil into 

 a condition suited to legumes. If this can be accomnli.^hed. the agri- 

 culture of the Avhole Province may be advanced to a considerably 

 higher scale. 



EXPEEIMKXTAL EeKOK IX MviZK TlUVLS. 



Trials are to be cairied out during the present season on maize 

 to determine what error must be allowed for in the explanation of 

 results secured from manurial trials, etc. Variations in yields are due 

 to many causes. Soil irregularity; -irregularity of manuring; of 

 planting; irregularity of weed growth; of insect attack, etc., all 

 tend to render the results of experiments of less value than they 

 ought to be. This season an endeavour is being made on maize 

 lands to treat them with as great uniformity in every respect as is 

 i)ractically possible. Results will be obtained from these ])lots which 

 will be of value as showing what error may occur in any experiments 

 connected with the maize industry, and what margin must be allowed 

 for in the results secured from experiments when the results are being 

 interpreted. Far too frequently i)ractices are formulated from the 

 results of experiments upon diiferences which are completely covered 

 by the experimental error. 



Exi'ERIMEXTS WITH CtKASSKS. 



A trial is in progress at the present time with several different 

 kinds of grasses to determine their yielding capacity, their longevity, 

 and their suitability to ^il'atal soils in the mist-belt. In a pastoral 

 country it is highly desirous that as much knowledge as possible 

 should be obtained regarding grasses, both indigenous and exotic. 

 Though Natal has upwards of 200 different species of grasses little 

 has hitherto been done to determine if any of them are suitable for 

 planting or sowing. 



A commencement has been inade with small plots of indigenous 

 grasses, and tliese small plots are to be extended considerably this 

 year. 



Trials on a larger scale aie l)eiug made with — 



Kikuyu Grass (Penmsetum lonr/isfi/Jmin. 



Tall Fescue (Frsfuco elatior). 



Cocksfoot (Dactylis glome rat a). 



Rhodes Grass (Cliloris (ia]fana). 



Still larger areas of Kikuyu Grass are being put down to test its value 

 as a pasture grass, and later on to prove the possiliility or otherwise 

 of eradication of this grass. Should it prove to be fairly easily 

 eradicated it will prove a most welcome aid to a system of rotatioji 

 where two or three years' pasture is included to rest the land. 



