CAB129-37 — Page 344

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The American types all flowered and set seed when very smali-not more than 6 inches to 8 inches high-and it is possible that this may be a response to the tropical day-length, which is short by comparison with the length of summer days in the regions of the United States where soya is grown. Most of the yields were poor, but Red Tanner and Ogden yielded 330 and 455 lbs. per acre respectively in about 90 days from early February plantings.

The Batavian Kedele types which were planted at the same time (February, 1948) grew vigorously and sturdily up to 18 inches in height, and then flowered all down the stem. The Kedele yellow variety yielded 500 lbs. per acre of well-filled mature seed in 114 days, but the Kedele black variety, which grew very well but obviously had a longer growth period, yielded a small quantity only of immature seed at the end of the rains.

At Urambo, a number of soya varieties were planted late in February. Tokio (ex United States) yielded around 400 lbs. per acre in 103 to 130 days, but the outstanding performance was that of the Batavian Kedele black, which gave 840 lbs. per acre in 122 days.

It is evident that the Batavian types deserve much further study. All soya plantings were made with inoculated seed.

Maize

Useful trials of maize were possible in the Kongwa Region only. The Central Province is not, in the usual meaning of the phrase, a maize area. Plantings in the 1947-48 season were mostly failures through drought. Yet on observation plots a Tanganyika variety, Katumbili, gave 1,401 lbs. per acre in 129 days from a planting on 18th February,. and Hickory King produced 1,236 lbs. per acre in 207 days from a planting on 21st December, in spite of being severely checked by drought in February. The most signifi- cant results were obtained from two short season yellow varieties, Kenya Yellow and Yellow Bushman (from South Africa). These were planted on 3rd and 12th March respectively, on a site at the lower end of the Kongwa experiment station and where, owing to the water conservation measures described above (3, Climate and Meteorology) moisture conditions may have been rather more favourable than elsewhere, although the site was not in any sense swampy. The ability of these two varieties to form a useful crop in the completely dry weather of May and June was most impressive, and they yielded 806 and 910 lbs. grain respectively in about 150 days. It seems clear that the growing of suitable varieties of maize on carefully selected sites in the Kongwa Region should receive further attention.

Other Crops

Safflower, planted in February, grew well, but yields were disappointing. The best figure was 453 lbs. per acre, given by Nebraska 79. The crop was sown in 28 inch rows, but in American dryland practice a wheat drill is com- monly used, giving far higher population. The low yield at Kongwa may thus partly be explained by the poor stand, but earlier planting will also be tested. Castor oil. The castor oil plants found in cultivation in most countries are tall bushes up to 12 feet or more in height, and are perennials or biennials. They have spiny fruits which shatter when ripe, and since the plant is not an annual it may bear flowers and immature and mature fruit at the same time. For all these reasons the crop usually presents great difficulty in mechanical harvesting. The firm of Mauthner, in Budapest, has, however, produced a dwarf (2-3 feet) variety with smooth non-shattering pods; and about half of the plants are true annuals. The Department was fortunate in securing a small quantity of seed of this type from Mr. Sellschop at Potchefstroom. In a first planting, at a wide spacing, made on 7th January, 600 lbs. of seed per acre were given at harvest, commencing on 14th April, a growth period of 98 days. A March planting, made to increase seed stocks, yielded 154 lbs. to the acre only. When optimum population for this crop is known it seems likely that it will be of considerable value to the scheme, and it is the opinion of the Massey Harris ftechgicians that it can be hapage 344 of 1097

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