The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-08-16

using slips aud root division. Mr..
Spencer has himself planted a five
acre field IN Antelope valley, besides
tumeruus experimental paintings
throughout southern California from
his few original plants set out little
more than a year ago.
The first paintings made here were
rom seed obtained from Australia
IN February. 1917 only twelve
plants having been grown from two
packages. In June. 1913 three cane,
we're procured by Mr. spencer from
Washington. The plants obtained
ron these canes and the twelve
eedling plants comprised his entire
'riginal stock
An Of these plants were allowed
D mature. Mr.. Spencer continually
Increasing the number by root diyi-
non. The canes were not cut IN
he fall ne he intended planting his
'arger acreage IN Antelope valley
where he felt the winter would be
no severe for fall planting. Tie al
owed the grass Ia stand through
he winter and was not able tn get
I cut In the spring until after II
lad sprouted from all the joints OF
he canes.
dost of the grass was cut on May
y, 1917. on one patch an cnthusi-
site helper chopped the canes on
With a hoe underneath the surface
Il the ground, badly ]iniuring IT, a.
dr. Spencer supposed On June Il
he Farm aud Tractor photographed
Photograph tins patch showing II
~ be- waist high. In thirty day.
rom planting II was four feet high
md wa estimated Ia amount IA
lirly tons Of green feed or seven
Ions Do per acre THIS ..
he time Mr.. Spencer consider, Just
light fer cutting the grass lor hay
IN sixty days from the lri cutting
u July n. the second tests wcr,
made. the result Of which, according
D Prof. Kennedy announcement
vas nm estimated yield of sixty lons
Il green feed or fifteen and onc-hall
ons of dry feed. This. II Is thought
would prove the best time for cut
ing stage.
though strongly drouih resisting
Elephant grass rrdouhlrs IT. cnrr-
cite output uu warm. moist spil
With rs marked preference for heat
nd sun II Is interesting In spccuiai,
N what would be- is productiy,
owcrs In Imperial valley rostin-
ven better than corn sllagc In nu-
riti,c value this perennial far out
distances the heaviest yielding crop.
nowu. according to the present lu-
al experiment which ycrlhos re-
port, coming from Australia Su-
IAN grass and the sorghum- son net
ian grass and the sorghums ,r mucl.
rdvocatcd of late for forage crops
IS well As alfalfa, must all tak'
over rank IN quantity of feed pro,
iuccd II the prrsrut estimates arr
even partially horne out IN genera.
culture.
Certainly Elephant grass Is wei.
worthy of much experiment In TIM
ocalty during the next few years
{ PROMISES now q wide idaplaulii>
ring both drouth and frost resistant
a great extent, How we'll n Wi.
land continuous pa,turng II mol
npVu, lhouph cases are reporlr'
rom Australia Of %pasuuring Through
ut the winter months after seNera.
ummer cutting. The many ques-
ions of soil adaptibility as we'll a.
climatic limitations are still 10 b,
answered hut the fact that Prot
Kennedy. CALIFORNIA; best authority
N the subject. has given II his I'M
n,lin,d approval, gives convincIn.
assurance Of a gratifying degrees Of
proven worth-EX.
Wv. \. \. --
MAPS mn lllIIfMHl