CATTLE AND FODDER. IQI 



expended in return. In forming a field, the only 

 thing necessary is to secure a wet week or ten 

 days for the operation, which is briefly as follows : 

 The roots of the grass from some old-established 

 estate having been brought into the clearing, pre- 

 viously freed from weeds, stones, and branches, so 

 far as may be, are torn into bunches, each of 

 which should have about twelve stems. Coolies, 

 armed with mamoties, then dig or scrape little 

 holes in the ground, as much as possible in lines, 

 and about eighteen inches apart. In these the 

 second line of coolies, usually women or boys, 

 place the roots, but instead of planting them 

 upright, divide each bunch, and, when inserting 

 them in the holes, bend half the stems one way 

 and half the other an arrangement which is sup- 

 posed to make the plant spread more and cover 

 the ground. In this way, when the field is com- 

 pletely covered, all care is over, for if the rain 

 continues for a few days after the planting, the 

 roots will strike, and the young shoots, coming up 

 strong and thick, will cloak the rugged " clearing" 

 with a deep green carpet, which in a wet season 

 will in three or four months be tall enough to 

 hide a man. It is not, however, allowed to reach 

 that height, but is cut with a sickle when about 

 eighteen inches high. 



In a recent report Mr. Robertson said the area 

 of land under this valuable fodder plant has been 

 considerably extended, and the better he became 



