104 



by immersing the seed for an hour in a 1 per cent, solution of carbonate 

 of soda, or washing soda, at a temperature of 122 F. According to him, 

 this treatment has been responsible for an 85 per cent, germination. M. 

 Delanoue found that by merely exposing the seed in its husks to the action 

 of summer weather throughout the summer months he obtained in the fol- 

 lowing autumn an 85 per cent, germination. Hence he recommends the 

 sowing sulla seed in the husks over a cereal stubble as soon as the field is 

 free of harvesting operations, and that without covering it. Apparently 

 moderate grazing of the stubbles in the summer months does not interfere 

 with the regular germination of the seed in the following autumn, on the 

 fall of the first rains. 



Finally, milled seed, freed of the husks by a special mechanical process? 

 may now be secured. It is said that they give rise to an 80 per cent, ger- 

 mination shortly after sowing. Unfortunately milled seed is very much 

 more expensive than the seed in its husks. 



I owe these details on the germination of sulla to an article from the pen 

 of M. R. Thillard, published in the 1909 Annuaire of the Ecole Colon idle 

 d* Agriculture de Tunis. 



Is sulla likely to prove of any use to us in South Australia, and if so, how 

 should it be handled ? This is a question which cannot very well be answered 

 without definite experiments on the subject. I am inclined, however, to 

 think that in 20in. rainfall country, and on good land, it is likely to prove 

 useful either as a grazing crop or as a leguminous hay crop. We have already 

 grown it at Rose worthy in the past, but do not appear to have understood 

 its general management. I propose, therefore, giving it a fairly extended 

 trial, although perhaps our rainfall conditions are somewhat below what 

 appear to be the special requirements of sulla. The seed, either milled, or, 

 if in the husk specially treated as indicated, should be sown in a cereal hay 

 crop at the rate of 131bs. to IGlbs. to the acre if milled, and at the rate of 

 601bs. to TOlbs. to the acre if in the husk. It should be broadcasted after 

 the drilling in of the cereal hay crop, rolled in with a corrugated roller if 

 the seed is milled, and lightly harrowed in if it is in the husk. Germination 

 will take place at the same time as that of the cereal crop, in the shelter of 

 which sulla will make fair growth. It will be cut down at the same time as 

 the hay crop, to which it will prove a useful addition. It will probably be 

 wiser not to graze the stubbles in the summer, and on the fall of the first 

 autumn rains the sulla will make rapid growth, and become available for 

 grazing early in winter. Or again, the sulla may be allowed to make full 

 growth and be cut for hay when in full bloom. Whether the plant will per- 

 sist in the ground as a perennial plant remains yet to be proved. If merely 

 grazed, however, it seems probable that in ordinary circumstances it will 

 find the means of going to seed, and reappear from time to time in the field 

 in which it had been sown originally. 



