THE AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



(^07 



cheap form of a phosphatic manure, and 



although direct experiments have not yet 

 demonstrated its efficiency over other 

 forms in Natal, yet it has a good record 

 elsewhere, and is probably most suitable 

 for our soils. The slag should not be 

 mixed with the other manures, bat rather 



spread by itself sometime previous to 

 planting. 



Kainit may be substituted for sulphate 

 of potash, but about four times the wei'^ht 

 will have to be used, as its perca itage of 

 potash is much less than that of the 

 sulphate. 



Paspaium Oiiaiatum Criticised. 



OXONIAN," Bundaberg, sends the fol- 

 lowing account of his experience of 

 this fodder grass to the " Queensland 

 Agricultural Journal": — ^We are con- 

 stantly reading in the agricultural papers 

 notices of the grass paspalum dtlatittiin, 

 many of which, I think, are very mis.'ea l- 

 ing. A few notes, therefore, on our own 

 experiences witn the same may prove 

 acceptable to some of your readers. We 

 commenced in a small way with a parcel 

 of seed some five years ago, and have had 

 it constantly under observation during the 

 whole time. We now have several acres 

 of it, and find that it grows readily from 

 seed sown in hot and moist times, seldom 

 germinating in cool weather. It is very 

 easily transplanted from the seed bed, 

 grows quickly in the summer time, does 

 not make much growth in cold weather, 

 turns a brown colour v/ith 6 degrees of 

 frost, and, during the hot day and trying 

 time of the present year, was just as much 



done up ai mauy of the indigenous 

 grasses. It is not easily destroyed by 

 ploughing, etc. It is impossible to kill it 

 with an ordinary horse cultivator in the 

 summer time if there is any moisture in 

 the soil. In showery weather it seems to 

 grow better for being knocked about by 

 the horse hoe. Owing to the lightness of 

 the seed it is constantly turning up in un- 

 expected places in the cultivation pad- 

 docks, and a fair stool of it will throw out 

 of ground an ordinary 2-horse plough. 

 Stock are fond of it. We consider it a 

 good grass, but would advise any of your 

 readers thinking of giving it a trial to 

 keep it clear of their cultivated land, or 

 sow in some out-of-the-way and lowest 

 corner where it cannot so readily spread. 

 I believe it will yet prove a great nuisance 

 to farmers. I am aware that this is very 

 difiierent to what we generally read, but 

 those facts are given from our experience 

 with it. 



MarifCt Reports. 



( Resi'onsibilitp for the accuracy of the Statements 



the respective 



MARITZBURG.- Messrs. W. H.Walker and 

 Co. write :— Trade generally is quiet, and there 

 is very little cbange in prices of produce ; in 

 fact, one might almost say they remain the same 

 as in our last reporc. 



Jfea^Ms.— Prices on the market vary between 

 5s. 8d. and 6s. 5d. per lOUlbs. ; privately arain 

 has been disposed of at about l^s. per muid. 



and Opinions oj the following Reports rests with 

 contributors ) 



Forage.— The market is now better supplied 

 than il; has been for months past, and some 

 samples have been as low as 3s. 9d., 5s. 3d., and 

 7s. 7d. per lUOlbs. However, good forage has 

 realised from 9s. 3d. to 10s. 7d. per lOOlbs. 



Hay. — The damp weather has prevented large 

 quantities coming forward, and prices have 



