294 CHAPTER XVII 



obtained in the Transvaal and Orange Free State. As a soiling 

 crop it should be cut earlier than tor silage, probably four to 

 five times during the season. 



Propagation. — It does not mature seed in the Union, and 

 is therefore propagated by cuttings and rooted slips or roots. 

 Slips should be taken in April. Cuttings should be taken 

 about the same time, and planted so as to leave one joint above 

 ground. Each cutting should have three to five nodes. If 

 the crown is broken up these roots may be planted out. Plants 

 stool abundantly, and should be spaced three feet in the rows 

 and six feet between the rows. Until well established cultiva- 

 tion should be fairly frequent. Cuttings, slips and roots should 

 be planted out in the spring. Previous to this they should be 

 kept in a bed well watered with good drainage. 



For silage it has a certain advantage over maize in that it 

 is perennial. The silage is probably not as valuable as that 

 of maize, because of the large quantity of fibre content. How- 

 ever, it is readily eaten by stock. 



CULTIVATED GEASSES OF MINOE IMPOETANCE 

 IN SOUTH AFEICA. 



A great many gi-asses, exotic and indigenous, have been 

 experimented with in South Africa. Some of these have been 

 cultivated by farmers to a certain extent, but for various reasons 

 have proved themselves poor grasses for our conditions, e.g., 

 Timothy ; some are unpalatable or of low feeding value ; others 

 because of their aggressiveness have become troublesome weeds, 

 e.g., Kweek ; while some have developed ergot very readily, 

 and so have become dangerous to pregnant stock, e.g., 

 Paspalum. 



Among the most important of what may be called the 

 minor agricultural grasses in South Africa are the following : — 



(1) Paspalum dilatatum. — This is a native of the tropical 

 States of America, and was introduced from Australia. It is 

 probably one of the best known exotic grasses in the Union, 

 and is sometimes known by the names of Water grass or Breed 

 Zaad Gras. It is a summer-growing perennial, having a 

 strong, deep-rooted system, with numerous leaves near the 

 ground, and relatively leafless stems of a w^eak, spreading 

 character. It is essentially a pasture grass. 



