BOTANY 169 



capacity for rhizomatous spread, it resists drought and heavy graz- 

 ing better than species with superficial roots. By the end of 1933 

 one hundred and fifty stoloniferous strains of Digitaria were under 

 trial; some are showing suitabiHty for general grazing, others for 

 mowing, others which stand covering by blown sand are suitable 

 for arresting erosion, still others are peculiarly resistant to drought. 

 In addition a number of other indigenous grasses, such as elephant 

 grass {Pennisetum purpureum) , which is particularly suitable for fod- 

 der and ensilage, Rhodes grass {Chloris gayana) , Kikuyu grass {Pen- 

 nisetum clandestinum) and Limpopo grass [Echinochloa pyramidalis) 

 have been introduced to the Union from the Rhodesias, Kenya, 

 and other parts of the continent, but as yet the selection and 

 hybridization of pure strains has been carried out only with 

 Digitaria. 



The headquarters of this work are at Pretoria, where the experi- 

 mental stations have collections of growing pasture plants repre- 

 senting numerous genera, species, and strains. In addition the 

 Universities of Pretoria, the Witwatersrand, Capetown, and South 

 Africa receive special grants from the Department of Agriculture 

 for work bearing on veld control, and other special studies are 

 carried out at the several schools of agriculture; the management 

 and renovation of veld is being studied by the school of agricul- 

 ture, Potchefstroom; grass-burning and grazing in natural and 

 cultivated pasture by the Cedara school of agriculture. Natal; 

 manuring and grazing in controlled plots and cultivation of fodder 

 crops, especially lucerne, by the Grootfontein experimental station 

 C.P.; rotational grazing and regeneration of pasture by the Glen 

 experimental station. Orange Free State; and the grazing value of 

 karoo bush and other fodder plants at Fauresmith. 



The Botanical Department of the Witwatersrand University is 

 concentrating on the fundamental ecology of veld; results should 

 throw light on the balance of the native species of grasses and other 

 herbs and on their reactions to grazing, fertilization, burning, etc. 

 A Grassland Research Committee, formed from Pretoria Univer- 

 sity and African Explosives and Industries, Ltd., has published 

 (1932) a useful general review of the situation in South Africa, 

 bringing all research into line. R. Lindsay Robb (1936), Chair- 

 man of the Committee, has produced a sequel report with the 



