we. 
1 Noy., 1897. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAN, 355 
Tucerne and Guinea-grass in India. 
Frox the Department of Land Records and Agriculture of the North-west 
Provinces and Oudh, we have received the Sixth Bulletin of the agricultural 
series, dealing with the cultivation of lucerne and Guinea-grass for fodder. 
Three varieties of lucerne have been experimented on—the Kandahar, the 
Persian, and a variety cultivated at the Remount Depdt, Babugarh (Meerut). 
The first isa poor kind both for quantity and quality. The other two are good. 
The report states that the sced should be sown in ridges 2 feet apart. ‘he 
advantages of ridge-sowing are thus set forth: — 
1. It raises the stem of the plant out of contact with the irrigation 
water, as under natural conditions the plant requires very little 
surface moisture. 
. Weeding is much more easily performed. 
. During the rains it prevents the plant being constantly saturated 
with water, the furrows acting as surface drains. 
4, The quantity of seed (12 lb. per acre) required is less. 
5. The soil round the stems and roots of the plants can easily be 
loosened and kept clean by haying the furrows ploughed. 
2 
3 
At the Government Experimental Farm, Cawnpore, the experiment 
for determining the relative merits of sowing lucerne broadcast in furrows and 
on ridges has been carried on since 1893-94, and in each year the largest yield 
of green fodder has been obtained by sowing the seed on ridges. When a crop 
of lucerne is cut, the scuffler ought to be worked in the furrows to eradicate 
weeds and grasses, and at the same time to loosen the soil alongside the roots 
of the plants. After this, manure should be thrown into the furrows and mixed 
with the soil by means of a plough. ‘The ridges should then be made up afresh 
by the ridging plough. This process should be repeated every time the 
lucerne is cut. -If properly managed, lucerne yields in the North-western 
Provinces about eight cuttings in the year, the average out-turn of the green crop 
being about 30 tons per acre per annum. The average yield of lucerne seed 
per acre, under favourable conditions, is about 3 maunds.* 
Guinrea-arass (P. tumentorum). 
Ts considered in India one of the most valuable fodder plants, living for a 
number of years, if properly cultivated and cared for. It thrives best on wet 
soil. It is planted in rows 2 feet by 2 fect either way. ‘The plants grow 
rapidly, and spread out into huge tussocks ly to 2 feet in diameter. The 
leaves and stalks may be cut down to within 6 inches of the ground, When 
the roots have become more than 18 inches across, so as to crowd one another, 
they should be split into three or four parts, and only one part left in the 
ground. A single cutting of Guinea-grass will yield as much as 180.maunds 
(about 2 tons) of green fodder per acre. 
The Superintendent, Civil Veterinary Department, in his Imperial Report, 
says:—‘‘The area under Guinea-grass was three-quarters of anacre. The 
yield was good, there being 830 maunds 23 seers (8 tons 14 ewt.),”’ 
* 1 maund = 25 Ib, 
