Abstract

During the year 1913-14 two new crops were tried in the Central Farm and both of them happen to be fodder crops. One is Tift grass and the other is Silver Beet. Mr. H. C. Sampson introduced them and it is too early to pass any definite opinion on them. The grass was obtain- edfrom South Africa probably to try in pastures as a pasture grass, along with other grasses, such as Coimbatore grass ('Kolekatty Pillu '). About half an acre was grown with this and the crop should be consider- ed as a fair one in growth, but how far this will succeed in pastures is yet to be decided after further trials. The silver beet was grown in rows live beetroot and the leaves were cut from time to time and fed to Dairy cattle. The cows no doubt relish the leaves well. It is yet to be seen whether this will be so paying a crop as Periya Manjal cholam grown for fodder.

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