GRASSES. 



289 



The analyses given below show the undesirability of 

 allowing the crop to mature fully before being cut for hay. 



It is a good crop for soiling, but its use for this purpose is 

 not likely to be extensive, since it is a summer crop. Being 

 a sorghum, it may be dangerous as a pasture crop. As it is 

 high yielding and of very quick growth, it will doubtless play 

 an important part in South African crop rotations. As a 

 catch-crop, where the main summer crop has failed, it is 

 admirably suited. 



Pests. — It has not been grown for any length of time in 

 South Africa. At present no serious insect pests have been 

 reported, but, since it is sorghum, it is liable to the pests of 

 sorghums — Sorghum Blight {Bacillus sorghi), for instance, has 

 caused considerable damage in some areas of the Union. 



KIKUYU (Pennisetum clandestinium) . 



Although Kikuyu under very favourable conditions will 

 occasionally make a sufficiently heavy and upright growth to 

 warrant its being cut for hay, it is essentially a pasture grass. 



Desceiption. — It is a perennial grass, making its chief 

 growth in summer. The plant is normally decumbent and has 

 numerous thick rhizomes and runners, by means of which it 

 soon establishes itself in the surrounding soil. On rich soil 

 well supplied with moisture an upright growth of 3 to 4 feet 

 w^ill sometimes be made. If required for hay, this should be 



