APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30^ 1914. 



93 



38139— Continued. 



very much, indeed, since cold weather in the early stages will almost stop the 

 growth altogether. About three waterings will be needed before the first cut- 

 ting, which is taken when the plants are about 25 cms. high. The time elaps- 

 ing between sowing and first cutting is about 45 to 80 days, according to the 

 character of the weather. In the majority of cases the crop is eaten on the 

 ground by animals ; in other cases the crop is cut or pulled by hand and carried. 

 The soil should be just moist enough to stimulate the plant to grow again at 

 once when cut. This is best attained by watering 10 days or so before it is 

 intended to cut it off. A few days after the crop has been removed the land 

 is again watered, and the Misgawi grows very rapidly, usually giving a second 

 cutting in from 25 to 35 days. This crop is treated like the first, and in this 

 way the land is made to give four good cuttings from the main crop. With 

 early sowing a fifth may be gotten, and then the plant is allowed to flower 

 and produce seed. With late planting the fifth cutting would be light, and 

 it is usual to allow it to seed after the fourth. 



" The cultural management of our MisgaWi berseem is also very simple. 

 Manures are never applied, as the growth is quite satisfactory without them. 

 It will grow well on most cultivated soils. On very light soils drought must 

 be carefully guarded against, and the plants will not grow on salt lands. 



" The following are the approximate areas of Misgawi which will carry the 

 various farm animals on average land during the season : Bullock, two-thirds 

 of an acre; cow and young stock, slightly less; horse and mules, half an 

 acre ; donkey, one-fourth acre ; sheep usually pick up what is left by the other 

 animals and would never be allowed uncut berseem. About one-third more 

 of the first cutting than of the subsequent ones is required for animals." 

 {Green.) 



" Repeated trials for several years subsequent to 1900 failed to find a region 

 in this country where the temperature conditions were suited to the culture 

 of this plant. It requires cool weather, without frost. For a complete account 

 of this plant as used for forage and soiling in Egypt, see Bureau of Plant 

 Industry Bulletin 23, Berseem: The Great Forage and Soiling Crop of the 

 Nile Valley." (Fairchild.) 



38140. Crotalakia JUNCEA L. Fabacese. Sunn hemp. 



From Jubbulpur, Northern Circle, India. Presented by Mr. John H. 

 Ritchie, Deputy Director of Agriculture, at the request of Mr. A. Howard, 

 Imperial Economic Botanist, Pusa. Received May 11, 1914. 

 " Sann hemp. The seed is not of a pure agricultural line, but is simply 

 seed as grown by the Indian ryot and represents the common crop of this dis- 

 trict I may add that all the finest qualities of sunn hemp come from this 

 part of India, which is within the limits of my working circle." 



38141. CoRCHORUs CAPSTjLARis L. Tiliacese. Jute. 



From Dacca, Bengal, India. Presented by the Department of Agriculture 

 at the request of Mr. A. Howard, Imperial Economic Botanist, Pusa. 

 Received May 11, 1914. 

 " Bengal jute." 



" Corchorus capsularis is an annual plant, growing from 5 to 10 feet high, 

 with a cylindrical stalk as thick as a man's finger, and seldom branching 

 except near the top. The leaves, which are of a light-green color, are about 

 4 to 5 inches long by li inches broad toward the base, but tapering upward 

 into a long, sharp point with edges cut into sawlike teeth, the two teeth next 



