445 



Sowing Broadcast. — A large area was sown broadcast 

 with crotalaria seeds on hill lands in Knala Lumpur plant- 

 ation, it was a complete failure, but on the fiat moist land at 

 Batu Tiga it was quite a success. A trial was made with 

 sowing crotalaria in shallow lines on hill land but was only 

 successful where the soil was fairly soft. On hard ground 

 the seeds germinated but only grew an inch or two high 

 and died off. An experiment was carried out to find the 

 best method of sowing crotalaria on ordinary flat or gently 

 undulating (not moist or wet) land, and the quantity of 

 seed required per acre was as follows: 



(a) Seed sown broadcast, 4 lbs. per acre; 



(b) „ ^ 2 „ 



(c) Seeds dibbled in 1 foot apart 1 inch deep; 



(d) „ 6 feet „ 



(e) „ 18 „ 



(/') Seeds sown broadcast and raked over. 

 The plots were each a tenth of an acre, and were those 

 of that which had been used previously for tapioca ex- 

 periments and were therefore in good condition for seed 

 sowing. The best results were obtained in plots (c), (d) 

 and (/'). The best methods for planting appear to be, judg- 

 ing for experiments carried on during the year ; 



(1) For hill lands or any ground with hard surface, 

 holes cut one changkol deep, about 15 inches 

 apart, and seeds dibbled in ; 

 *(2) For ordinary slightly undulating land, seeds 

 dibbed in one foot apart ; 



(3) On flat land with loose surface, seeds sown broad- 



cast (2 lbs. per acre) and raked in; 



(4) On wet lowlying land, broadcast (2 lbs. per acre). 

 There are two very marked varieties of crotalaria in 



general use on estates — viz., Crotalaria striata and Crota- 

 laria incana. 



Crotalaria striata. — The plant generally known as 

 Crotalaria striata, is a quick growing variety, which has 

 small leaves and runs to seed quickly. This plant never 

 makes a really good cover plant. 



Crotalaria incana. — This plant is a much stronger 

 grower that the aJ)ove, the leaves are much larger and the 

 plant is slow to run to seed, it therefore serves its purpose 

 as a cover plant for a much longer period, and gives, when 

 cut over, much more material for mulching. 



Mimosa pudica. — A v good deal of attention lias again 

 been given to this plant and several experiments have been 

 carried out with it, both with regard to its value as a cover 



