AMAZING GRASS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20003, 31 July 1939, Page 3

AMAZING GRASS

DISCOVERY IN AFRICA TREMENDOUS CiROWTH LONDON, July 21. The “Giant Star” grass, which a ’ British agricultural expedition lias . discovered in Kenya, Uganda and the Belgian Congo, should be most valuable in preventing soil erosion, says . the Pretoria correspondent of The • Times. Important cultural researches are ■ being carried out at a South African ’ experimental station, where some . plants grew 4in in 24 hours. One, without irrigation, produced 50-foot shoots and covered 8000 square feet in five months and a-half. Botanists, says the correspondent, have never known any grass equal to the "Giant Star” for quick growth and soil binding. It remains beautifully green with slight irrigation and has extremely high feeding value. A single plant yields 2251 b. of fodder in a few months. coast cf the South Island, elsewhere changeable and showery, with further stew on the high levels, extending at times to parts of the east coast from Hawke’s Bay •southwards; conditions improving to-morrow in the south. Temperatures very cold, with some frosts to-nigh't. Midday Forecast General Situation: Pressure is low to the north-east of the North Island, but an anticyclone covers the far southern districts. Moderate to strong southerly to south-easterly winds reaching gale* force at times in exposed positions. Weather: Cloudy ie overcast and showery, hail at times and further snow probable on the hills. Temperatures: Cold. Seas: rough, Saturday's Midday Forecast General situation,—■Pressure remains low ilo the south-east. Unit if; high over Australia. Westerly depressions are crossing the country. Forecast.—Fresh to strong west to south-west winds. Weather change-1 able, with occasional showers, but fair intervals. Temperatures cooler. Seas rough oft' shore.