162 MOZAxMBIQUE 



cipal known varieties and strains of lucerne, the 

 Transvaal Department of Agriculture obtained 

 the best results with Australian seed from the 

 Tamworth and Hunter Eiver districts, and with 

 Oudtshoorn seed, the latter, however, being often 

 found to contain dodder and other weed seeds. 

 Seed from Provence, in the south of France, also 

 proved good. 



Under irrigation, cuttings can be taken once a 

 month during nine months of the year, i.e., from 

 September to May, and yields of between five and 

 six tons are obtained from a 2|-year stand. The 

 local price at present is 6s. per bale of 45 kilos — 

 £6 12s. per ton metric. With a yield of five tons 

 this gives a gross return of J633 per acre. Prices 

 could not, of course, be expected to remain at 

 their present level if the supply underwent any 

 considerable increase. Yeld hay sells for from 

 £2 to £3 10s. per ton. 



Water is turned over the land for three days 

 after every monthly cutting, the quantity dis- 

 tributed being equal to a mean supply of 45 inches 

 in depth during the twelve months. This quan- 

 tity appears to be ample for the black alluvium of 

 the river-banks, which is liable to cake if too much 

 is applied. The harrows or hoes should be passed 

 over the ground after each inundation, when the 

 soil is dry enough to break up the surface crust. 



m 



