MIS< I.I.I. ANKlll'S CHOPS. 629 



a satisfactory germination, and the practice of flood irrigating is strongly 

 discountenanced owing to the soil setting hard. It a patchy germination 

 follows planting, and irrigation by flooding is found necessary, harrowing 

 to break the .cruel formation is essential in order to allow the seedlings t<> 

 push through. These are important points to consider, and must receive 

 special attention. The rate of seeding is governed largely l>v the width 

 of rows employed, and the proportions set out in the following table are 

 recommended : — 



Both the wheat drill and the maize dropper may be employed for sowing. 

 The former should be set to sow the lowest quantity of dry wheat, blocking 

 up the hoppers not required. With tin' maize dropper a sorghum plate 

 should be used. When broadcasted, 12 to 15 lb. per acre is sufficient, and 

 this quantity can be controlled by sowing with some fertiliser through the 

 manure box of a wheat drill. A rotation of sowings in small areas up to 

 3 acres is advocated, this resulting in the complete control of the soiJ 

 moisture, and the ensuring of a good germination and subsequent growth. 

 Tf larger areas are planted at one period, difficulty will be experienced in 

 retaining sufficient moisture to germinate the seed. Concerning planting 

 depth, on no account should the seed be set deeper than :.' to 3 inches. The 

 moisture content of the soil controls this factor to a large extent, but 

 germination is considerably retarded if planting is carried out at too great a 

 depth. The aim should be a depth of from 1 to 2 inches. 



Irrigation Practice. — When once established, Sudan grass will thrive well 

 with abundance of moisture, but care must be exercised with irrigation 

 during the early stages of growth. This is most necessary when flood irriga- 

 tion is practised, as the young plants are susceptible to scalding. 



When it is intended to irrigate by flooding, the erection of check banks 

 h to 1 chain apart is recommended. These banks are easily constructed with 

 a plough, but the furrows on either side should be filled in, otherwise the 

 water will be directed to these channels and ineffective irrigation will follow. 



Maximum yields are obtained from furrow irrigation, with rows 3 feet apart 

 and cultivation after each irrigation, but where it is intended to use the grass 

 for grazing purposes, Hooding is generally advised. 



Fortnightly irrigations are essential during the summer months to produce 

 maximum growth, and the grower should, if possible, apply water prior to 

 cutting, as it encourages an earty start in the succeeding growth, and thus 

 obtains the highest possible yield for the season. On no account, it is 

 important to remember, should stock be allowed to graze until the land is 

 sufficiently dry to carry them. 



Fertilisers. — Increased yields are obtained from the application of chemical 

 fertilisers, and experiments have shown that 1 to 2 cwt. of superphosphate per 

 acre or a mixture containing equal parts of superphosphate and bonedust can 

 be used with profit. The effect of manure is most apparent in the first 

 growth, as a rule, increasing the percentage of flag, succulence, stooling 

 propensities, and height of stalk. 



