464 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



Up to the present the yieids have been extremely small on the coast as 

 well as in the interior (with and without irrigation). The plants set seed 

 very readily, and produce big heads, but the seed is very light, and the yields 

 suffer in consequence. The highest yields have been 15 bushels to the acre 

 at Nyngan and 30 bushels on the coast. These yields are above the average, 

 but there is a strong probability that by selecting for compact heads the 

 seed yields will be considerably increased. 



The thin stems and sparse leaves seriously affect the fodder yields of 

 Kaoliang. Nor is that all : the stems are extremely pithy, and practically 

 negligible from a feeding point of view. Yields of 3 tons per acre have been 

 obtained from it in the interior. 



Kaoliang is easily the quickest maturing grain sorghum we have. At 

 Hawkesbury Agricultural College it matured in 75 days as against 112 days 

 for Kafir. 



This sorghum possesses two characteristics which render it extremely 

 useful under certain conditions. These are (1) its quick maturing habits, 

 and (2) its drought resistance and capacity for setting seed under the most 

 adverse conditions. Another feature, of slightly less importance, is its 

 ability to set seed, even when the season is very wet. The rain does not 

 appear to drown the pollen as in the other sorghums. Under normal con- 

 ditions it is very inferior to Milo and Feterita ; but the presence of such 

 characteristics outlined above, combined with the possibility of considerably 

 increasing the grain yield by selection, may eventually render it of great 

 importance in our semi-arid districts. 



Milo (Grain Sorghum) at Hawkesbury Agricultural College. 

 yield— 3 tons cwt. fodder and 3S bushels seed per acre. 



