THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



Wollongbar Experimental Farm, Rich- 

 mond River : — 



Moisture 



Total albumenoids 



Soluble albumenoids 



Insoluble albumenoids 



Digestible fibre 



"Woody fibre 



Total ash 



Soluble ash 



Insoluble ash 



Amide compounds, chlorophyl, 



&c. (by difference) 



Total nitrogen 



Nitrogen in amide compounds, &c. 



10-55 

 10'31 



29-96 

 27-95 

 6-37 



14-86 



138 



8-93 



4-32 

 2-05 



2-66 

 1-01 



100-00 



I subjoin an analysis of hay from meadow- 

 grass (name unknown) of English source, 

 which will afford a comparison of the 

 value of these fodders. From this it will 

 be seen that the amounts of total albume- 

 noids, and of digestible fibre, which are 

 the chief factors in determining the feed- 

 ing value of the hay, are very similar, 

 with a slight advantage in favour of the 

 paspalum hay. The solubility of the 

 fibre, albumenoids, and mineral matter 

 being, moreover, greater than with the 

 English hay. The most strikingpeculiarity 

 is, however, the comparatively large 

 amount of nitrogenous matter other than 

 albumenoids. The nitrogen in these com- 

 binations is of comparatively no feeding 

 value. 



ANALYSIS OF HAY FROM MEADOW 

 GRASS. 



Moisture 14"00 



Soluble albumenoids "98 



Insoluble albumenoids „r 5o 



Digestible fibre 28-68 



Woody fibre 22-J2 



Soluble ash 2-20 



Insoluble ash ■, > 



Amides, &c. (by difference) l'^67 



Total Nitrogen 1;^;^ 



Nitrogen in amides, &c '12 



The paspalum hay compares very 

 favourably with ordinary hay, containing a 

 larger proportion of digestible and nourish- 

 ing material. 



If both analyses are calculated to dry 

 substance, it will be found that the jtas 

 pahim hay shows the higher albumenoid 

 content, the amount of digestible fibre 

 being almost identical. 



"Florida," Wollongbar, N.S.W., 

 November, 1900. 



Since the foregoiug papers were written, 

 I have everywhere extended my cultiva- 



tion, of the paspalum dilatatum grass, 

 and the more I see of it the better I like 

 it ; in fact, for a permanent pasture 

 giving a vast volume of good feed, it has 

 no equal, it makes a perfect pasture when 

 hard grazed, and, as it does not mat on 

 «ie ground, all the other grasses and 

 clovers come up through it in their 

 respective seasons, and thus give the 

 mixture which is so necessary and bene- 

 ficial for the stock. 



A good deal of difficulty has been 

 experienced by some in getting the seed 

 to germinate, but although it sometimes 

 takes a long time to show up, my experi- 

 ence has been that if good seed is used it 

 will certainly come, and I conclude the 

 difficulty has generally arisen through 

 purchasing an inferior quality seed. The 

 spring is usually the best time to sow, 

 but even if the seed is sown out of season 

 it Avill not damage in the ground, but will 

 germinate as soon as the conditions are 

 favourable. 



For quick results the planting of roots 

 is adapted, and in my opinion it is an 

 excellent plan ; they can be planted at 

 almost any time of the year. The method 

 I have adopted is to plant them four or 

 five feet apai-t each way, and then sow the 

 ordinary grasses and clovers over it, in the 

 proper 'season ; the paspalum will soon 

 spread its seed and a good pastui-e be 

 obtained. If the plants are put in during 

 the early spring, they will at once make 

 rapid growth, and in five or six weeks 

 will give a lot of feed. Strong, old roots, 

 should be chosen, as they contain enough . 

 moisture to start the growth, whereas 

 seedling plants are very likely to die out. 

 In pl-anting, always use the spade, not the 

 hoe ; insert the S})ade, push the plant well 

 down behind, withdraw the spade and 

 trample firm. In this method a man and 

 boy can plant from 1 to acres a day, 

 and if the plants are good and properly 

 prepared there will be very few misses. 



I have for a long time been carrying 

 more than a beast to the acre, and have 

 not found it necessary to grow any arti- 

 ficial food such as green oats, sorghum, 

 &c., and this in itself is a great saving of 

 expense. 



From January to the end of May last 

 year, I was obliged to take stock on agist- 

 ment in order to keep my paddocks well 

 grazed down ; during that period I carried 



