Experiments and iNVEsTKiATioNS. 1(1') 



grow, flower, and seed, due to the hard grazing which it receives. At 

 Cedara, in areas fenced off from grazing^ this plant is rapidly 

 increasing, so that at the end of November, when in full flower, the 

 areas have a distinct purplish tinge due to the colour of the blooms. 

 Seeing- that sucli a plant is readily eaten by stock, and knowing the 

 value of the cowpea as a cattle food, an endeavour is being made to 

 propagate this plant from cuttings with a view to the establishment 

 of an area for the growth of seed. The advantages of an area of a 

 permanent crop of this description are obvious, and such crops are 

 badly needed. 



Another legume Avith wliich trials are to be made is an indigenous 

 lotus. This plant is closely grazed where stock have access to it, but 

 in fenced off areas it grows Avell and seeds. Seeds are to be collected 

 this season to try if it is not possible to establish areas of this plant, 

 which will rival lucerne in value as a forage plant. 



A species of indigenous clover, found chiefly on the edges of 

 vleis, will likewise receive attentiou. 



Water Grass (Cyperus esculentus). 



A thorough study of this plant is contemplated, as it is considered 

 that this is the worst weed which the farmer has to contend with. 

 The seeding of the plant and its life-cycle are to be studied. The 

 influence of organic matter upon its virility and various methods of 

 eradication are to be tried. Sprays, ploughings, and grazing are all 

 to be tried in an endeavour to And some easy means of combating 

 this weed. 



Thk Wattle Pests. 



Investigational work on tlie diseases of the wattle bagworm 

 {Acantho psyche junodi Heylaerts) is being carried out, mainly with 

 the object of deteiunining whetlier it is possible to utilize any fungal 

 diseases in the artificial control of this serious wattle pest. The chief 

 of these diseases is a deadly fungous disease {Isaria psyalndae, Pole 

 Evans). This disease has already been investigated by the Chief of 

 the Division of Botany, but the work was dropped some time ago, 

 partly owing to the poor results of preliminary field tests and partly 

 owing- to pressure of other work. The object of the investigational 

 work now being carried out is to determine the modes of infection, 

 the development of the parasite within its liost, the seasonal history 

 of tlie fungus, whether it has alternative hosts or not, and also to find 

 out if possible some simple and inexpensive means of cultivating this 

 fungus artificially, so that spores may be obtained in sufficient 

 quantities for field tests. 



Other diseases of the wattle bagworm, such as wilt and a bacterial 

 disease, will also receive attention as time permits. 



The brown cockchafer (Hyperpholes .sommere Burm) is a destruc- 

 tive i>est both in the larvae and adult states ; as a white grub buried 

 in the soil it feeds on the roots of various plants, and as an adult 

 beetle it feeds on wattle foliage. 



The larva is attacked by a fungus, an Isaria ap, very similar to 

 the fungus of the bagworm. It may be identical, and the cockchafer 

 grub may be an alternative host, therefore this disease is also being 

 studied. 



