126 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 191CT. 



Answer. — W.M. — Trifolium glomeratum, L., Clustered Clover, a native of 

 the Mediterranean regions, introduced into this State and now widely spread. 

 It is an annual which seeds freely and so maintains itself, even on dry, sandy 

 soils. Whilst growing it yields fairly good pasturage, but dies down in autumn 

 and late summer when usually herbage is most needed. It is a good plant for 

 aiding in the improvement of bare, arid pasture land which it steadily enriches and 

 adds to the carrying capacity for at least half the year. Sheep voiding the un- 

 digested seeds carry the plant from place to place. 



Paspalum. — Orbost inquires why Pasfalutn sioloniferum has not ton-'e into 

 public favour like Pasfalum dilatatiim. He also asks whether "Boyd's Clover" 

 will form a turf from seed. 



Answer. — Pasfalum stoloniferum is comparatively little known. Its yield 

 appears to be less than that of Pasfalum dilatatum, and its creeping habit of 

 growth makes it a nuisance in cultivated land. It is comparatively resistant to- 

 drought and has no injurious or poisonous properties recorded against it. There 

 is no record of "Boyd's Clover." Is it a seedsman's name? Please forward a 

 specimen. 



Strawberry Clover. — -T.E. desires information regarding Strawberi-y Clover. 

 Answer. — There are two forms of Strawberry Clover. One is the annual Strawberry 

 Clover, Tr-ifolium res^ipinatmn, L. ; the other is the jjerennial Strawberry Clover, 

 Trifolium fr'tgiferum, L. Both species are introduced plants. T, Jragiferum, L. is a 

 native of Europe, of North Africa, and of Asia. It somewhat resembles T. r-epens, 

 the White or Dutch Clover, in its mode of growth, but after flowering the calyces 

 expand into small bladders, and take on a reddish colour. Percival does not include 

 either this or the preceding species among the clovers recommended for cultivation. 

 It grows well on clayej' or wet sandy soils. Cattle grjize well and fatten on it. Baron 

 Mueller regarded it as superior to Dutch Clover, but this is very doubtful. It maj-, 

 however, stand summer heat better. The annual Strawberry Clover is a native of 

 Europe, Africa, and Asia, aff'ording a little grazing in spring, dying down in autumn 

 or late summer, but maintaining itself readily from season to season by its numerous 

 seeds. Baron Mueller mentions that " this clover is cultivated with predilection in 

 Upper India, also in Afghanistan." This is evidently an error, as the plant is not 

 mentioned in the official dictionary of The Economic Products of India. It is not 

 worth cultivation, and is of very subordinate importance as a |)asture plant. 



Maize Cultivation. — J.S. inquires as to cultivation of maize and similar fodder 

 crops. 



Answer. — Every attention should be given to the proper cultivation of maize 

 and similar fodder crops. The seed having been sown in rows at least three feet 

 apart, the soil should be kept stirred on the surface between, both to keep down 

 weeds and to conserve the soil moisture. Care must be tctkeii not to work too close 

 to the growing plants or to stir the soil too deeply. The fine feeding roots of the 

 plants are liable to be damaged in either case, and the growth of the crop to 

 be thus checked. Also, as the object of inter-cultivation is to conserve the soil 

 moisture, shallow working only is required. To bring damp soil to the surface from 

 below will cause unnecessary loss of moisture, and the crop will suffer from its 

 loss. The lightest possible stirring of the surface soil is all that is required ; but 

 the work should be repeated frequently till the crop is too high to get the cultivator 

 through it without damage to the plants. On very light soils a piece of brush 

 fixed under the cultivator will shorten the working length of the teeth, and prevent 

 them from running too deep. 



Fodder Value of Rye. — H.H.W. inquires as to value of rye as fodder for 

 stock. 



Answer. — The comparative values of green rye and green oats are as 

 follow : — • 



Protein FreeExtract. ^^*- 



Rye ... 1.8 per cent. ... 6.8 per cent. ... 0.6 per cent. 



Oats ... 2.5 ,, ... 19.3 ,, ... 1.4 ,, 



Earliest Variety of Wheat for Grain. — H.H.W. wishes to know the earliest 

 variety of wheat recommended for sowing for grain. 

 Answer. — Bunyip. 



Manuring after Burning of Crop. — H.H.W. writes: — "Supposing a field be- 

 heavily manured with superphosphate and the luxuriant resulting crop be destroyed 

 just before harvest time, is the manure lost or is it returned to the soil through 

 the ash?" 



Answer. — The amount of phosphoric acid in the ash of a burnt croj; would 

 be trifling. The manure is practically wasted by the crop being burnt. 



