362 
Supplement to the " Tropical Agnculturist." [Nov. 1, 1902. 
OCCASIONAL NOTES. 
To those who have been enquiring for the price 
of chillies in the London market we would state 
that the London Grocer quotes Zanzibar chillies at 
from 34 to 37 shillings per cwt. "Capsicums" 
range from 16 to 80 shillings per cwt.; "long 
peppers " 55 ^o 58 shillings per cwt. 
The rainfall for October as recorded by us will 
give some idea of the nature of the weather last 
month. Our own measurements reached a total of 
38 "27 inches against 31'47 in the Fort the two places 
being within a distance of S miles from each other. 
Rain fell on all but two of the 31 days, and the 
heaviest fall was measured on 1st November, viz., 
5 "43 in. This is certainly very unusual, and some 
people are speculating whether there is any con- 
nection between the Ixeavy rains and the comet 
of Perrine! 
Cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp), is according 
to a co-respondent pretty commonly found 
growrng around dwelling houses in the Balangoda 
district, but only in small enough numbers not to 
attract attention, as the general impression is that 
the cultivation of the shrub is prohibited. The 
plant is allowed to wither situ, and is then further 
dried and sold to the Moorman " Cadger." 
On this subject the Ceylon Observer says : — We 
do not think there is any Ordinance at present in 
the local list prohibiting the cultivation of Indian 
hemp, any more than of the poppy ; because in 
deference to the Buddhist prohibition of such 
drugs, nothing has ever been done in Ceylon worth 
notice in this direction. But it will certainly be- 
come necessary now, in view of what our corre- 
spondent states, Ito pass such a law guarding the 
cultivation. Very possibly under the Opium or 
Bhang Ordinance any one turning the hemp or 
poppy into drugs for personal use or sale, can be 
punished. 
NEW FODDERS. 
Sorghum Jialapense, now known as Andropogon 
halapensis, and from which the widely-cultivated 
cereal A. Sorghum (Karal-iriiigu, S.) is supposed 
to be descended, has been more than once put 
forward as a good fodder. The grass is some- 
times referred to as " Johnson grass," and it is 
curious to find people anxious to grow plants 
■with a strange name, when they would never 
think of taking up some dT the indigenous forms of 
Yegetatiou and endeavouring to improve them. 
Such people were naturally disappointed to find 
that the far-famed Cow-pea was almost identical 
with the native beans known in Sinhalese as 
" Li-me " and "Nil-me" ; and that the Florida 
velvet bean was of the same genus and species 
as the Tamil " Achariyapala." 
Johnson grasp, as we have indicated above, 
is a grass "not uncommon" as Thwaites puts 
it, in the Central Province of Ceylon, and 
probably seen every day by the inhabitants 
who, however, do not connect it with the Sorghum 
halapense of Botanists or the Johnson grass of 
America. 
A correspondent writing to the Agricultural 
Journal of the Cape, refers to information 
received by him as to "Johnson grass "making 
excellent grazing, and states that the seed can be 
sown on the dry ground and within a short time 
will grow most luxuriantly. 
Mr. P. MacOwan, the Government Botanist at 
the Cape, writes :— " Sorghum halapense, the 
grass to which the Americans have given the 
absurd name of 'Johnson grass,' is one of 
the fodders or supposed fodders, like ' Teosinte ' 
and 'Wagner's pea introduced by speculative 
seedsmen, and praised far beyond their worth, 
just to make sales and rake in the money." 
He then quotes the experience of a N. S, 
W. farmer to this affect : "It is of no use as a 
fodder in this district. It is of no value and 
is a great trouble to get rid of after we once 
get it to grow, and all who have sowed it 
wish they have never seen the thing. No one 
who ever saw the Johnson grass growing would 
have anything to do with it. It grows very 
coarse and tall, and very hard. No cattle will 
eat it while there are any other kinds of grass." 
It is said to grow wild along the banks of the 
Orange River and other parts, much as the 
common reed does, but is not sought after by 
cattle 
Mr. MacOwan recommends Pentzia virgata 
as a wholesome and fattening fodder for the 
Karoo, where conditions do not admit of a 
regular grass crop, though, as he states, the 
foo^value of the veldt depends upon dwarf bushes 
whchgrow socially and with alternate use and rest 
prove a stand-by in all seasons. 
RAINFALL TAKEN AT THE SCHOOL OP 
AGRICULTURE DURING THE MONTH 
OP OCTOBER, 1902. 
1 
Wednesday 
. -03 
17 
2 
Thursday 
.. -05 
]8 
3 
Friday 
.. -85 
19 
4 
Saturday 
. 5-08 
20 
b 
Sunday 
. 2-78 
21 
6 
Monday 
.. -80 
22 
7 
Tuesday 
.. -68 
23 
8 
Wednesday . 
.. 4*55 
24 
9 
Thursday 
.. -95 
25 
10 
Friday 
. 2-15 
26 
11 
Saturday 
. 2-18 
27 
12 
Sunday 
. -40 
28 
13 
Monday 
. 2-07 
29 
14 
Tuesday 
. -02 
30 
1« 
Wednesday . 
. .95 
31 
16 
Thursday 
. -62 
1 
Friday 
Saturday . 
Sunday 
Monday 
Tuesday 
Wednesday 
Thursday .. 
Friday 
Saturday 
Sunday 
Monday 
Tuesday 
Wednesday . , 
Thursday .. 
Friday 
Saturday .., 
•14 
•04 
1-90 
Nil 
Nil 
1-45 
•36 
•60 
•75 
•26 
•04 
•64 
•02 
1-24 
1^32 
5^43 
Total... 38-27 
Mean. ..1-23 
Greatest amount of rainfall registered in 
24hours, on the 1st November 1902, 6-43 inches. 
Recorded by Alex. Perbra. 
