GRASSES. 285 



KoTATiONS. — In rotations it forms an excellent catch crop 

 when the main crop fails. The following five-year rotation 

 is recommended for Highveld farmers : — 



1st Year — Maize, and superphosphate. 



2nd Year — Maize. 



3rd Year— Teff. 



4th Year — Cowpeas to be ploughed under. 



5th Year — Potatoes, and bone meal. 



Soil Preparation. — As the seed is extremely small and 

 the seedling of delicate growth, the ground should be in very 

 fine tilth and the seed must be buried only to the slightest 

 degree. After sowing, if the ground is rolled with a Cambridge 

 Poller this will be sufficient. (On moist, heavy soils this 

 instrument cannot be used.) 



Some of the best stands are obtained by sowing just 

 before rains or by sowing during rains. No further covering 

 of the seed is necessary. 



Brush dragged lightly over the ground is used by some 

 farmers. Weeders are very useful in this respect, but most 

 harrows cover the seed too deeply. 



Insufficient moisture for the germination and early growth 

 is one of the chief causes of crop failure. 



Sowing. — Five to six pounds of seed is used per acre, 

 either broadcasted by hand, with a " fiddle Cahoon Broadcast 

 sower," or a wheelbarrow seeder. To obtain even distribution, 

 the seed should be thoroughly mixed with dry sand or silt — 

 about one to 40. It is often recommended as a smother crop, 

 in which case 8 to 10 lbs. should be sown to the acre. On 

 sandy soils light roUers are employed to compact the seed bed 

 after the seed has been sown. It should be sown from 

 October to the end of January in most parts of the Union, 

 and, if possible, to avoid hay-making in January and February, 

 the wettest season in the Transvaal. 



Harvesting. — (1) For Hay. — For this purpose it should 

 be mown as soon as the flowers are well out and before the 

 seed has set to any extent. If cut in the afternoon it can be 

 raked the following morning when the dew has disappeared, 

 and cocked in the afternoon. In good weather it can be 

 stacked a day or two after being cocked. 



For market it should be pressed in bales 16 x 18 x 36 

 inches. These usually weigh 75 to 100 lbs. 



Teff yields one to two and a half tons of hay per acre. 



